Effects of Zinc and NaCl Applications on Dry Matter Yield and Mineral Element Concentrations of Durum Wheat (Triticum durum Desf.)

Salinity, which reduces plant productivity in many regions of the world, is common in arid and semi-arid regions and zinc (Zn) deficiency in such areas is an important problem that limits crop production. In this study, it was aimed to determine the effects of Zn and salt applications on the growth and mineral content of the shoots in Kunduru-1149, which is a durum wheat cultivar using a soil with Zn deficiency. In the study carried out with this aim, 3 Zn doses (0, 5 and 10 mg Zn kg-1) at the beginning of the experiment and Zn and 4 different salt doses (0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5%) at the tillering stage of plants were applied. Chlorophyll content (SPAD value), dry matter yield, green component potassium (K), sodium (Na), Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe concentrations and K/Na parameters of the plant were determined in the experiment. According to the results, SPAD values were increased due to Zn application regardless of salt application, but SPAD values decreased in all Zn applications due to increased salt applications. The yield reduction of the dry matter yielded by salt application was higher in the application of 0 mg kg-1 and 5 mg kg-1 than the 10 mg kg-1 application of Zn. While the K concentrations in the shoots of the plants tend to decrease under all salt applications, they increased with Zn applications and Na concentration increased under all salt applications, while Na concentration decreased with Zn application under the same salt applications. As a result, the damage caused by salt application has been observed to decrease under Zn application conditions