Abstract
Limited water availability is one of the most serious threats to crop production. Foliar application of calcium chloride has been found very effective in mitigating the harmful effects of water deficit in maize . Study was carried out to examine the role of calcium chloride in improving the growth and yield attributes of maize exposed to four different water regimes viz. normal irrigation at 6 leaves stage (V6 as per Feekes scale), skipped irrigation at 6 leaves stage (V6 as per Feekes scale), normal irrigation at tasseling stage (VT as per Feekes scale) and skipped irrigation at tasseling stage (VT as per Feekes scale). While CaCl2 was applied exogenously at 2.5 mM, 5 mM and 7.5 mM each one week after imposition of drought. Distilled water spray and untreated (control) did not receive any calcium chloride. Results showed that crop growth rate, total dry matter and leaf area of maize was decreased under drought at either crop growth stage. However, effect of water deficit and exogenous application of calcium chloride was more pronounced at 6 fully expanded leaves stage. Plant height, number of leaves per plant, biological yield, harvest index, cell membrane stability, chlorophyll contents and leaf relative water contents of maize were improved by 63%, 29%, 24%, 1.7%, 22% 7.7% and 24%, respectively, by exogenous application of CaCl2 @ 7.5 mM under drought at 6 fully expended leaves stage as compared to untreated (control). Foliar application of CaCl2 at 5 and 7.5 mM was advantageous under water deficit at either growth stage.
Salman Haider Abbasi, Mudassir Aziz, Khuram Mubeen, Muhammad Usman Jamshaid. (2021) Foliar applied calcium chloride confers drought tolerance in maize by modulating growth and agronomic attributes, The Journal Soil & Environment , Volume 40, Issue 2.
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