Ali A. Al‐Jaloud

Effect of irrigation and nitrogen on water use efficiency of wheat in Saudi Arabia

Water use efficiency (WUE) and yield of wheat were determined in a field experiment using different irrigation waters, with and without nitrogen fertilizer on a sandy to loamy sand soil during 1991–1992 and 1992–1993. Depending upon different fertilizer treatments, the mean crop yield ranges in 1992–1993 were: biomass 4290–13 960 kg ha−1 (well water) and 6460–14 870 kg ha−1 (aquaculture effluent) and grain yield 770–5010 kg ha−1 (well water) and 2140–5790 kg ha−1 (aquaculture effluent). The WUE for grain yield in 1991–1992 was 2.67–12.24 kg ha−1 mm−1 (well water) and 4.29–12.67 kg ha−1 mm−1 (aquaculture effluent). The WUE for grain yield in 1992–1993 was 1.22–7.97 kg ha−1 mm−1 (well water) and 3.40–9.21 kg ha−1 mm−1 (aquaculture effluent). The WUE for biomass in 1991–1992 ranged between 8.74–29.16 kg−1 ha−1 mm−1 (well water) and 11.34–30.02 kg ha−1 mm−1 (aquaculture effluent). Whereas in 1992–1993, the WUE for biomass was 6.82–22.19 kg ha−1 mm−1 (well water) and 8.68–23.64 kg ha−1 mm−1 (aquaculture effluent). The grain yield and WUE obtained in T4 and T5 irrigated with well water and receiving 75 and 100% nitrogen requirements, were comparable with T4 and T5 irrigated with aquaculture effluent and receiving 25 and 50% nitrogen requirements. It is, therefore, concluded that application of 150–225 kg N ha−1 for well water irrigation and 75–150 kg N ha−1 for aquaculture effluent irrigation containing 40 mg N 1−1 would be sufficient to obtain optimum grain yield and higher WUE of wheat in Saudi Arabia.

Effect of wastewater irrigation on mineral com‐position of corn and sorghum plants in a pot experiment

Abstract Effect of wastewater irrigation was investigated on mineral composition of corn and sorghum plants in a pot experiment. The ranges for the concentration of different minerals in corn plants were 0.67–0.89% calcium (Ca), 0.38–0.58% magnesium (Mg), 0.09–1.29% sodium (Na), 0.81–1.87% nitrogen (N), 1.81–2.27% potassium (K), 0.12–0.16% phosphorus (P), 190–257 mg/kg iron (Fe), 3.5–5.6 mg/kg copper (Cu), 37.1–44.5 mg/kg manganese (Mn), 21.6–33.6 mg/kg zinc (Zn), 1.40–1.84 mg/kg molydbenum (Mo), 11.0–45.7 mg/kg lead (Pb), and 2.5–10.8 mg/kg nickel (Ni). Whereas for sorghum plants, the ranges were: 0.56–0.68% Ca, 0.19–0.32% Mg, 0.02–0.27% Na, 0.69–1.53% N, 1.40–1.89% K, 0.10–0.14% P, 190–320 mg/kg Fe, 3.8–6.0 mg/kg Cu, 29.2–37.6 mg/kg Mn, 21.1–29.9 mg/kg Zn, 2.2–3.7 mg/kg Mo, 12.3–59.0 mg/kg Pb, and 2.5–15.2 mg/kg Ni. Heavy metals such as cobalt (Co) and cadmium (Cd) were below detection limits at mg/kg levels. The concentrations of Ca, N, K, P, Cu, and Mn in corn plants were in the deficient range except...

Effect of treated effluent irrigation and nitrogen on yield and nitrogen use efficiency of wheat

Abstract Yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of wheat was investigated under field conditions using two types of irrigation waters with and without nitrogen on a sandy-loam to loamy-sand soil during 1992–1993 and 1993–1994. Depending upon different nitrogen treatments, the mean crop yield ranges in 1992–1993 were: grain yield 6.19–6.87 Mg ha− and biomass 15.41–16.34 Mg ha−1 receiving treated effluent. The mean crop yield ranges in 1993–1994 were: grain yield 0.46–3.23 Mg ha−1 (well water) and 5.20–6.54 Mg ha−1 (treated effluent); and biomass 1.84–10.80 Mg ha−1 (well water), and 16.00–19.29 Mg ha−1 (treated effluent). The NUE for grain yield in 1992–1993 was between 16.70–50.23 kg kg−1 N (well water) and 20.65–91.56 kg kg−1 N (treated effluent). Whereas the NUE in 1993-94, varied between 10.49–32.13 kg grain kg−1 N (well water) and 21.30–72.93 kg grain kg−1 N (treated effluent). The NUE for total biomass in 1992–1993 varied between 46.54–130.32 kg kg−1 N (well water) and 53.66–158.77 kg kg−1 N (treated effluent). Similarly, the NUE in 1993–1994 varied between 35.99–102.1 kg biomass kg−1 N (well water) and 59.27–161.89 kg biomass kg−1 N (treated effluent). A significant decrease in NUE was observed with increasing nitrogen application both for grain and biomass production. In conclusion, a higher grain yield and NUE of wheat crop can be achieved with low application rates of nitrogen if the crop is irrigated with treated effluent containing nitrogen in the range of 20 mg L−1 and above.

Effect of irrigation and nitrogen on yield and yield components of two rapeseed cultivars

Abstract A field experiment was carried out to determine the effect of irrigation and nitrogen on two cultivars of oilseed crops ( Brassica napus L. cv. canola and Brassica campestris L. cv rapeseed) on a sandy-clay-loam soil during 1993–1994. The mean plant height ranges for canola were: 1.20–1.40 m (well water) and 1.40–1.57 m (aquaculture effluent); and for rapeseed from 1.281.52 m (well water) and 1.41–1.58 m (aquaculture effluent) in different fertilizer treatments. Mean biomass yield for canola ranged between 14.60–17.84 Mg ha −1 (well water) and 14.09–19.51 Mg ha −1 (aquaculture effluent); and for rapeseed from 16.67–19.51 Mg ha −1 (well water) and 12.70–20.74 Mg ha −1 (aquaculture effluent). The mean seed yield for canola varied from 2.65–3.44 Mg ha −1 (well water) and 3.02–3.74 Mg ha −1 (aquaculture effluent): and for rapeseed from 2.73–3.26 Mg ha −1 (well water) and from 2.62–3.29 Mg ha −1 (aquaculture effluent). The mean straw yield ranges for canola were: 12.01–14.39 Mg ha −1 (well water) and 13.65–15.93 Mg ha −1 (aquaculture effluent); and for rapeseed from 11.67–13.28 Mg ha −1 (well water) and 9.83–17.45 Mg ha −1 (aquaculture effluent). The mean oil contents for canola were 30.92–36.12% (aquaculture effluent) and 32.47–35.78% (well water); and for rapeseed from 30.15–34.53% (aquaculture effluent) and 33.50–35.96% (aquaculture effluent). The mean protein contents of straw were 5.42–6.44% (canola) and 3.78–4.37% (rapeseed) in different fertilizer treatments. Application of 175 kg N ha −1 with 50 kg P ha −1 showed significant effect on crop yield under both types of irrigation water. Based on the results of this study, it appears that cultivars of rapeseed recently introduced from Canada have an excellent potential as oilseed crops in Saudi Arabia.

Effect of saline irrigation on the biomass yield, and the protein, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium composition of alfalfa in a pot experiment

Abstract Effect of saline irrigation was studied on the germination, biomass yield, protein content, and nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) composition of three alfalfa (Medicago sativa) cultivars in a pot experiment. The percent germination of alfalfa cultivars decreased to 15% (Hassawi), 13% (Supreme), and 30% (CUF‐101) receiving irrigation water having total salinity of 12.3 dS/m; and up to to 30% (Hassawi), 22% (Supreme), and 64% (CUF‐101) with irrigation water salinity of 16.5 dS/m. The mortality of young alfalfa seedlings was 100% after two weeks of germination with irrigation water salinity of 12 dS/m and above. The mean green‐matter yield was 56.72 g (Hassawi), 54.29 g (Supreme), and 59.91 g (CUF‐101) per pot irrigated with water having total salinity of 7.8 dS/m. The difference in yield was not significant among the three cultivars. Overall, a green‐matter yield of 11–12 tons/ha per cutting (equivalent to 2.69–3.14 tons/ha dry matter per cutting) could be obtained with irrigation water h...

Effect of saline irrigation on germination and growth parameters of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in a pot experiment

Abstract The effect of saline irrigation was investigated on germination and growth parameters of six barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars in a pot experiment. The crop germination decreased between 24–35% with irrigation water having EC of 9.26 dS m−1, 28–47% with water EC of 13.4 dS m−1 and 30–53% with water EC of 16.28 dS m−1 among various cultivars. The sequence of reduction in germination was Hassawi > Gusto > Madini > M. Khariji > Qassimi. Plant height and total number of plant tillers decreased significantly with increasing irrigation-water salinity. Plant height ranged between 39.43 cm (Qassimi cultivar) with water EC of 3.00 dS m−1 to 1.97 cm (Gusto) with water EC of 16.28 dS m−1 whereas the range for total number of plant tillers per pot was 77.00 (Qassimi) with irrigation EC of 3.00 dS m−1 to 9.67 (Gusto) with irrigation EC of 16.28 dS m−1. The trend of reduction in plant height for different cultivars was Gusto > Qassimi > Hassawi > Madini > M. Khariji whereas for plant tillers, the sequence was Gusto Hassawi > M. Khariji > Qassimi > Madini. Overall sequence of salt tolerance for different barley cultivars was Madini > Qassimi > M. Khariji > Hassawi > Gusto. A comparison of cultivars indicated that irrigation waters with EC 13.40 dS m−1 and above reduced crop germination and greenmatter production to a significant level. In conclusion, there exists a lot of potential for a reasonable production of barley as forage crop with irrigation water having salinity up to 9.26 dS m−1 provided 15% extra water above crop-water requirement is applied as leaching requirements to control soil salinity.

Effect of irrigation and nitrogen on yield, yield components and water use efficiency of barley in Saudi Arabia

Abstract Water use efficiency and yield of barley were determined in a field experiment using different irrigation waters with and without nitrogen fertilizer on a sandy to loamy sand soil during 1994–1995 and 1995–1996. Depending upon different fertilizer treatments, the overall mean crop yield ranges for two crop seasons were: greenmatter from 19.48–55.0 Mg ha −1 (well water) and 21.92–66.5 Mg ha −1 (aquaculture effluent); drymatter from 6.86–20.69 Mg ha −1 (well water) and 7.87–20.90 Mg ha −1 (aquaculture effluent); biomass from 4.12–21.31 Mg ha −1 (well water) and 8.10–19.94 Mg ha −1 (aquaculture effluent) and grain yield from 2.12–5.50 Mg ha −1 (well water) and 3.25–7.25 Mg ha −1 (aquaculture effluent). The WUE for grain yield was 3.37–8.74 kg ha −1 mm −1 (well water) and 5.17–11.53 kg ha −1 mm −1 (aquaculture effluent). The WUE for total biomass ranged between 6.55–33.88 kg −1 ha −1 mm −1 (well water) and 12.88–31.70 kg ha −1 mm −1 (aquaculture effluent). The WUE for drymatter was 10.91–32.90 kg ha −1 mm −1 (well water) and 12.51–33.22 kg ha −1 mm −1 (aquaculture effluent). It was found that grain yield and WUE obtained in T-4 and T-5 irrigated with well water and receiving 75 and 100% nitrogen requirements were comparable with T-4 and T-5 irrigated with aquaculture effluent and receiving 0 and 25% nitrogen requirements. In conclusion, application of 100 to 150 kg N ha −1 for well water and up to 50 kg N ha −1 for aquaculture effluent irrigation containing 40 Mg N l −1 would be sufficient to obtain optimum grain yield and higher WUE of barley in Saudi Arabia.

Use of aquaculture effluent as a supplemental source of nitrogen fertilizer to wheat crop

Abstract A field experiment was carried out on sandy‐clay‐loam soil on the use of aquaculture effluent as a supplemental source of nitrogen fertilizer to wheat crop in 1991–92. The mean ranges for different crop growth parameters under various fertilizer treatments were plant height between 51.9 and 74.8 cm (well water) and between 60.7 and 79.0 cm (aquaculture effluent); greenmatter yield between 6.9 and 22.8 Mg ha‐1 (well water) and between 9.6 and 25.1 Mg ha‐1 (aquaculture effluent); drymatter yield between 1.71 to 4.53 Mg ha‐1 (well water) and between 2.28 to 4.89 Mg ha‐1 (aquaculture effluent); total biomass between 5.5 and 18.7 Mg ha‐1 (well water) and 7.1 and 18.8 Mg ha‐1 (aquaculture effluent); grain yield 1.68 to 7.70 Mg ha‐1 (well water) and 2.70 to 7.97 Mg ha‐1 (aquaculture effluent); straw yield between 3.8 and 11.0 Mg ha‐1 (well water) and between 4.4 and 10.9 Mg ha‐1 (aquaculture effluent); and the number of tillers per plant from 2.06 to 4.63 (well water) and from 3.19 to 5.81 (aquaculture ...

Effect of wastewaters on plant growth and soil properties

Abstract Effects of wastewaters on plant growth and soil properties were studied in a pot experiment. Mean biomass ranged from 159 to 210 g per pot for maize and from 165 to 212 g per pot for sorghum in different water salinity treatments. Mean dry matter yield ranged between 28.9 to 38.3 and 34.9 to 50.4 g per pot in different water salinity treatments for maize and sorghum crops, respectively. The crop yield showed significant increase with increase in water salinity. This was presumably due to the nutrients present in wastewaters, especially the nitrogen. Plant yield decreased slightly at water salinity level of 2330 mg L‐1 (TDS), indicating that high water salinity can neutralize the beneficial effects of nutrients in wastewaters. Soil salinity and sodicity increased significantly with corresponding increase in water salinity and sodicity (r values of 0.98 (maize) and 0.98 (sorghum) for soil salinity, and 0.96 (maize) and 0.95 (sorghum) for SAR of soils). The interaction between crop and water treatme...

Water quality of different aquifers in Saudi Arabia and its predictive effects on soil properties

Abstract Chemical composition data of different aquifers was used to classify groundwaters in Saudi Arabia. For the mean water composition, different water quality parameter ranges were for EC, 1.56 to 8.24 dS m‐1; total dissolved solids (TDS), 1200 to 4860 mg L‐1; sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) 3.10 to 12.53; Ca2+/ Mg2+ ratio, 0.80 to 3.15; and Cl‐/SO2‐ 4 ratio, 0.49 to 3.68. For the 90th percentile water composition, the water quality parameter ranges were for EC, 2.26 to 13.10 dS m‐1; TDS, 1950 to 9800 mg L‐1; SAR, 3.45 to 18.76; Ca2+/Mg2+ ratio, 0.58 to 3.49; and Cl‐/SO2‐ 4 ratio 0.40 to 4.85. Sodium was found to be the most abundant cation, followed by Ca2+, and Mg2+. Cl‐ and SO2‐ 4 were present in a balanced proportion, followed by HCO‐ 3. The waters were classified as C 3 S 1 to C 4 S 4, i.e., a category of high to very high salinity and low to very high sodicity problem water. Other parameters such as adj. SAR, adj. RNa+, and ESP were calculated, interrelated, and commented upon for possible salini...