A field experiment was carried out during 2012 season at Ras Sudr Agricultural Experimental Station, South Sinai Governorate of Egypt, to study the response of two pearl millet cultivars namely (Shandaweel 1 and Sudan pop I) growing in saline soil to three periods of irrigation (4 day, 8 day and 12 day) and four treatments (potassium humate, silicon (diatomes), mixture of both and control). The effect of these treatments on the growth and chemical composition of pearl millet was investigated. The increased period of irrigation reduced growth parameters, photosynthetic pigments, mineral ions content (K, Ca, Mg and P) and increased Na+, proline, ascorbic acid contents, total phenols and total flavonoids of both studied pearl millet cultivars. Also, all soil additives significantly increased aforementioned parameters of both cultivars. However, the obtained results indicated that Sudan pop I cultivar was more drought tolerant than Shandaweel 1 cultivar. From the current study, the adverse effects of drought stress on pearl millet plants under Ras Sudr conditions can be ameliorated by using silicon and potassium humate which had a positive effect on most of the biochemical components and growth parameters.
Key words: Pearl millet, Drought, Silicon, Potassium humate, Photosynthetic pigments, Minerals, Proline, Phenols, Flavonoids.
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