Impact of Organic Amendments and Potassium Silicate on Yield of Different Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Cultivars and Soil Fertility Under Drought Stress Conditions

Niel, Enga Mostafa; Zain El Abedeen, A.A.; M. Abdelaziz, Shimaa; Yahya, A.I.A.

doi:10.21608/asejaiqjsae.2025.454982

Impact of Organic Amendments and Potassium Silicate on Yield of Different Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Cultivars and Soil Fertility Under Drought Stress Conditions

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition, Res. Dept. SWERI, ARC, Egypt

² Wheat Res. Dep., Field Crops Res. Inst., ARC, Giza, Egypt

10.21608/asejaiqjsae.2025.454982

Abstract

Efficient water management is critical in Egypt due to its arid climate and limited water resources, which has a substantial impact on wheat growth and lowers grain production. A field experiment was conducted for two successive winter growing seasons (2021/22–2022/23) to investigate the effects of organic amendments (humic acid, fulvic acid, and compost) and potassium silicate on alleviating drought stress and improving wheat growth and yield under different irrigation regimes (50, 25% Irrigation deficit and full irrigation) across three wheat cultivars (Giza 171, Masr3, and Sakha 95). The results showed that full irrigation significantly enhanced growth parameters, yield, and yield components, particularly the 1000-grain weight, grain yield, and biological yield. Among the cultivars, Sakha 95 demonstrated superior growth and the highest grain yield (4.13 Mg fed^-1), while Giza 171 exhibited notable drought tolerance with high 1000-grain weight and competitive grain yield under severe irrigation deficit conditions. Fulvic acid was the most effective fertilizer for increasing spike number and plant growth, whereas potassium silicate had a significant positive impact on both grain and protein yields. The interaction of full irrigation with cultivar selection and organic amendments further enhanced multiple yield traits. Compost was the best amendment for improving soil fertility by increasing soil organic carbon and nutrient content, which is essential for sustainable agriculture. To address climate change challenges and ensure stable wheat production, integrated management practices are recommended, including the application of full irrigation based on water availability, choosing drought-tolerant and high-yielding cultivars, and employing targeted fertilization strategies using organic amendments and potassium silicate. Integrated soil fertility management combines irrigation, targeted cultivar selection and organic amendments such as compost and humate is vital for sustaining agricultural productivity and soil health.

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