Response of two rye wheat varieties to sulfur application under saline–arid soil conditions

Haider Rezaq Leiby, Haydar A. Al-Ibrahimi, Anmar Hamoudi Kadhim, Sadeq Hadi Hussein, Naser Habeeb Mhaibes, Ayda Swadi Fatnan

Abstract


Rye wheat productivity can be constrained by inadequate nutrient availability, particularly under challenging soil conditions. This study assessed the effects of agricultural sulfur application on growth and yield-related traits of two rye wheat varieties (Farah and Amal 7). Significant varietal differences were observed for plant height, flag leaf area, fertile spikes, grains per spike, and grain yield. Variety, Farah, produced greater plant height (112.32 cm), whereas variety Amal 7 exhibited larger flag leaf area (29.55 cm2), more fertile spikes (394.58 spikes m-2), more grains per spike (44.59), and higher grain yield (3.876 t/ha) than Farah (3.606 t/ha). Sulfur application significantly improved most growth and yield attributes. The highest sulfur level (S3 = 1500 kg/ha) produced the greatest plant height (117.13 cm), fertile spike number (405.67 spikes m-2), grains per spike (47.68), and biological yield (12.311 t/ha), while S2 (1000 kg/ha) produced the largest flag leaf area (31.35 cm2), 1000-grain weight (42.62 g), and a high grain yield (4.072 t/ha). The highest grain yield of 4.148 t/ha was recorded under S3, compared with 3.260 t/ha in the sulfur-free control. Variety × sulfur interactions were significant for flag leaf area and fertile spike number but not for plant height, grains per spike, 1000-grain weight, grain yield, or biological yield. Overall, agricultural sulfur application substantially enhanced rye wheat growth, yield components, and productivity, with S2 and S3 providing the most favorable responses.


Keywords


Rye wheat, Sulfur application, Salinity stress, Arid soil, Crop productivity

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.33804/pp.010.04.6206

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