EVALUATION THE PERFORMANCEOF BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT IN THE SCARCITY OF IRRIGATION WATER CONDITIONS ON MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.)

Abstract

The current study focuses on the use of biological treatment, with the goal of finding ways to cope with water scarcity and understanding the physiological adaptations of corn plants to drought. A field study was conducted from March 2014 to June 2014 to investigate the influence of different concentrations of Salicylic acid (0, 50, 100, 200, 300 ppm) to reduced the effect of water deficit on vegetative growth and grain yield of sweet corn (Zea maize L.) under different irrigation levels (25%, 50%, and 75%). Specifically, a clear increase was noted in the leaf area index, root length (cm) and number of Cob perplant. The corn was sprayed with Salicylic acid (0, 50, 100, 200, 300 ppm) under water deficit conditions. Corn plants positively responded to the spraying of Salicylic acid. The corn plants were most tolerant of drought when sprayed with 300 ppm Salicylic acid. The use of Salicylic acid is an innovative and promising way to reduce the impact of drought on the plant growth and production.