EFFECT OF NANO-ALUMINUM SILICATE WITH DIFFERENT IRRIGATION PERIODS ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD TRAITS OF WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.)

The study, carried out during the winter of 2022-2023 at the Fadliyah Region, Thi-Qar Governorate, Iraq, sought to determine the effects of nano-aluminum silicate and irrigation periods on the growth and yield traits of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar Buhouth-22. The experiment had a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split-plot arrangement, two factors, and three replications. The first factor (main plot) included irrigation periods (I), irrigation every seven days (I1), 14 days (I2), and 21 days (I3), while the second factor (subplot) comprised the volumetric percentages of mixing nano-aluminum silicate (12 nm) with soil (S) i.e., 3% (S1), 4% (S2), 5% (S3), and 6% (S4). The results showed increased proportion of nano-aluminum silicate significantly enhanced the studied traits. The nano-aluminum silicate ratio (S4) was superior in root total length, plant height, leaf area, number of tillers, grains per spike, and grain yield, which did not differ from other ratios (S3 and S2). The irrigation period (I2) appeared superior by giving the highest averages for the above traits, but did not differ significantly from the irrigation period (I1). The interaction of nano-aluminum silicate ratio (S4) and irrigation period (I2) provided the highest grain yield.