FOLIAR APPLICATION OF POTASSIUM AND GIBBERELLIC ACID (GA3) TO ALLEVIATE DROUGHT STRESS IN WHEAT

To investigate the ameliorative effect of foliar application of potassium and gibberellic acid on wheat to drought stress an experiment was conducted at the research field and laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology Department, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU), Dinajpur during the period of November 2018 to March 2019. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replications. Four growing conditions viz. well water (WW), water deficit stress (WDS), foliar application of 2.23% K2SO4 under WDS and foliar application of 300 ppm GA3 under WDS were set up as the main plot treatment and two wheat varieties (Kanchan and BARI Gom-30) were set up as sub plot treatment. Non-irrigated water stress significantly reduced different physiological traits, yield and yield attributes except proline content of flag leaf of wheat, whereas foliar application of potassium and GA3 improved these traits under WDS. Foliar application of potassium improved biological yield (22.04% and 15.16%) and grain yield (3.19% and 2.59%) in Kanchan and BARI Gom-30, respectively, whereas foliar application of GA3 improved biological yield (12.12% and 17.00%) and grain yield (1.47% and 1.18%) in Kanchan and BARI Gom-30, respectively under WDS. Though, foliar application of potassium and GA3 ameliorated the adverse effect of drought on wheat but potassium was found more effective. Therefore, it may be concluded that additional foliar application of potassium along with recommended potassium could improve production of wheat under drought