Influence of Diluted Sea Water and Foliar Fertilizer on Hydrophysical Properties of a Clayey Soil in Relation to Growth, Yield and Mineral Status of Millet

A pot experiment was conducted in the greenhouse of the National Research Center, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt to study the effect of irrigation millet plants by diluted sea water and spraying foliar fertilizer (Groue more 16-6-8) on soil physical properties, growth and mineral status. The experiment included 14 treatments: a) soil irrigated by fresh water with and without spraying by foliar fertilizer, b) soil irrigated with 3 levels of diluted sea water 2000, 4000, and 6000 ppm with and without foliar fertilizer and c) soil irrigated with 3 levels of diluted sea water 2000, 4000, and 6000 ppm followed by alternating fresh water with and without foliar fertilizer. The obtained results showed that Plant height, number and surface area of leaves, stem diameter and fresh and dry weight of plant were decreased by soil salinity compared to that irrigated by fresh water. The depressions were increased with the increment of salts concentration. Spraying foliar fertilizer slightly affected the measured growth criteria of millet plants. The results also indicated that values of soil bulk density were increased by 0.27, 0.65 and 2.15% while that concerning with penetration resistance were increased by 24.0, 27.24 and 32.89 % for 2000, 4000 and 6000 ppm under alternated with fresh water respectively. The relationship between hydraulic conductivity (HC) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) showed a general decrease in the values of HC with the increase in SAR. The coefficient of determination, R was 0.991** when saline water alternated with fresh water was used while it was 0.742* under using saline water continuously. On the other hand, increasing soil salinity as a result of using saline water decreased available water of the soil and led also to lowering the uptake of N, P, K, against increasing in Na, Ca and Mg uptake. It is clear that the treatments of alternating diluted sea water with fresh water were better than that used saline water continuously. [New York Science Journal 2010;3(7):1-7]. (ISSN: 1554-0200).

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