EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL POTASSIUM (K plus ) ON GROWTH, PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ATTRIBUTES OF WHEAT GROWN UNDER SALINE CONDITIONS

Present experiment was conducted to assess the ameliorative effects of soil and foliar application of potash fertilizers, i.e., sulfate of potash (SOP) and muriate of potash (MOP) on five wheat cultivars (Sitta, Sehar, Bhakkar-2006, PFAU#VEE, S-24), subjected to salt stress created by applying sodium chloride (NaCl; 10 dS m-1) to the growth medium. Different treatments of potash fertilizers used included: control, SOP (100 kg ha-1) in soil, foliar spray of 1% solution of SOP, MOP (100 kg ha-1) in soil and foliar spray of 1% solution of MOP. Experiment was carried out in completely randomized design with three replications. Imposition of salt stress reduced growth, yield, and related yield attributes, photosynthetic attributes, ionic contents and biochemical activities in all wheat cultivars. However, application of potash fertilizers in soil as well as in foliar spray counteracted the adverse effects of salt stress on all wheat cultivars and the application of SOP in soil and as a foliar spray proved to be more effective in inducing salt stress tolerance. No adverse effect of chloride on plant growth was observed. Among the cultivars, S-24 and Sehar showed the maximum growth, yield and biochemical contents and thus could be used in future for obtaining better yield under saline conditions.