IMPROVING YIELD OF WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.) GENOTYPES BY FOLIAR APPLICATION OF POTASSIUM AND SALICYLIC ACID UNDER SALINITY

Salinity is the major threat to agriculture all around the world. Amongst diverse techniques being used to mitigate adverse impact of salinity, foliar spray of potassium and salicylic acid is considerably more essential. Growth and productivity of the plant is improved by foliar spray of potassium and salicylic acid that are disturbed by salinity. Present experiment was planned with two wheat genotypes and foliar K and SA were applied (0.1% K, 0.02% SA and K+SA) at the vegetative and reproductive stage. Current experiment was conducted in saline field of Biosaline Research Station, Pakka Anna, Faisalabad, Pakistan. K+SA foiliar spray significantly improved the plant height, fertile spikelets spike(-1), productive tillers plant(-1), thousand grain weight, spike length and grain yield. Wheat genotype (WL-711) was successful in maintaining higher yield and its attributes at both stages (vegetative and reproductive) under salt stressed field conditions. However, the results of foliar spray of K+SA indicated more effective foliar spray in improving grain yield at both stages in salt stressed plants. Results of field experiments also confirmed the combined effect of salicylic acid and potassium in mitigating adverse impacts of salinity on both wheat cultivars.