INTERACTION BETWEEN SALINITY AND POTASSIUM ON GRAIN YIELD, CARBOHYDRATE CONTENT AND NUTRIENT UPTAKE IN PEARL MILLET

Abstract

To study the effects of different salinity levels and potassium supply on grain yield, yield components, carbohydrate content and nutrient uptake in pearl millet, a plot experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at university of Zabol, Iran. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized factorial design with three replicates. Potassium sulfate was used as the potassium source. The rate of potassium treatment was 0, 100 and 200 kg ha -1 . Pearl millet was subjected to different salinity levels (0, 4, 8 and 12 ds/m) through addition of NaCl to irrigation water. Results showed by increasing salt concentration from control to 12 ds/m grain yield (45.6%), biological yield (35.3%), harvest index (15.1%) and 1000 seed weight (60.1%) decreased. In this study salt stress remarkably elevated the carbohydrate content at vegetative and reproductive stages in leaves of millet. Salinity treatment decreased potassium and magnesium uptake but application potassium increased potassium and magnesium content in leaves at two stages until 200 kg.ha -1 . Potassium application had significantly effect on grain yield and yield components and increased them.