Effect of Irrigation with Saline Water on Germination, Physiology, Growth, and Yield of Durum Wheat Varieties on Silty Clay Soil

Khadija Manhou (), Rachid Moussadek, Houria Dakak, Abdelmjid Zouahri, Ahmed Ghanimi, Hatim Sanad, Majda Oueld Lhaj and Driss Hmouni
Additional contact information
Khadija Manhou: Laboratory of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra 14000, Morocco
Rachid Moussadek: Research Unit on Environment and Conservation of Natural Resources, Regional Center of Rabat, National Institute of Agricultural Research, AV. Ennasr, Rabat 10101, Morocco
Houria Dakak: Research Unit on Environment and Conservation of Natural Resources, Regional Center of Rabat, National Institute of Agricultural Research, AV. Ennasr, Rabat 10101, Morocco
Abdelmjid Zouahri: Research Unit on Environment and Conservation of Natural Resources, Regional Center of Rabat, National Institute of Agricultural Research, AV. Ennasr, Rabat 10101, Morocco
Ahmed Ghanimi: Laboratory of Materials, Nanotechnologies, and Environment, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat 10101, Morocco
Hatim Sanad: Laboratory of Process Engineering and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology Mohammedia, University Hassan II of Casablanca, Mohammedia 28806, Morocco
Majda Oueld Lhaj: Laboratory of Process Engineering and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology Mohammedia, University Hassan II of Casablanca, Mohammedia 28806, Morocco
Driss Hmouni: Laboratory of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra 14000, Morocco

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 22, 1-24

Abstract: Freshwater scarcity in arid regions forces farmers to use saline water, reducing durum wheat ( Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum ) productivity, particularly during early growth stages. This study evaluated two Moroccan varieties, Faraj and Nachit, on silty clay soil under five salinity levels (0.2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 dS m −1 ) in a randomized complete block design with three replications, aiming to identify tolerance thresholds and characterize physiological and agronomic responses. Key traits measured included germination percentage, germination stress index, mean germination time, root and coleoptile length, plant height, leaf number, chlorophyll fluorescence, grain yield, weight of 200 grains, and straw yield. Germination percentage declined from 8 dS m −1 , with delayed germination and inhibited vegetative growth at higher salinity. Both varieties maintained grain yield up to 8 dS m −1 and weight of 200 grains and straw yield up to 12 dS m −1 , with Nachit showing higher tolerance. Multivariate analyses, including principal component analysis and heatmaps, linked soil sodium, chloride, and electrical conductivity negatively to growth and yield, whereas potassium, calcium, and magnesium supported plant growth and physiological activity. These findings provide insights for breeding and irrigation strategies to sustain durum wheat under salinity stress.

Keywords: Moroccan varieties; salinity stress; durum wheat; germination; growth; chlorophyll fluorescence; grain yield and silty clay soil (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/22/2364/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/22/2364/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:22:p:2364-:d:1794775

Access Statistics for this article

Agriculture is currently edited by Ms. Leda Xuan

More articles in Agriculture from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().