Effect of Water Deficit on Productivity of Some Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Genotypes

Abstract

Two field experiments were laid out during 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 growing seasons at Sakha region, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt to evaluate the productivity and stress tolerance of ten barely genotypes under full irrigation and water stress conditions. Eight traits for barley were measured: days to maturity, plant height, spike length, number of grains/spike, number of spikes/m2, 1000-grain weight, biological yield and grain yield. Also, stress susceptibility index (SSI) was calculated. Results showed that, all the studied traits were decreased under water stress conditions. Mean squares due to seasons, water treatments, genotypes and their interactions were significant or highly significant for most studied traits. From the results, Giza 133 and Line 3 were the earliest genotypes in maturity. Line 4 under normal irrigation and Giza 2000 and Line 5 under stress gave the highest values of grain yield and most of its components. From SSI data, Giza 124, Giza 126, Giza 2000, Line 3 and Line 5 considered as the most tolerant genotypes where it had values less than the unity. so, it can be used in improving barley productivity under water stress condition.