Effect of Zeolite and Irrigation Frequency on Barley Using Sub-Surface Dripper in Hot Environment

Water stress is the main environmental factor limiting cereal yield in Mediterranean environment where barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is one of the main crops. This investigation was aimed to evaluate the effects of zeolite and water stress on barley growth under irrigation of modified sub-surface dripper and heat stress. A sand dune soil was amended with Ca-type zeolite and irrigated every 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th day basis. The results showed that zeolite application significantly increased water holding capacity of the soil and improved plant growth compared to the un-amended control. Using sub-surface irrigation with zeolite amendment helped the plants to use water efficiently, reduce water evaporation, keep much water in lower horizons, encourage leaching process and enhance plant growth. Plant parameters showed significant differences among treatments and affected negatively by heat and water stress conditions. High temperature caused acceleration in evapotranspiration, water stress in plants and depletion of water from the root zone. The temperature in the greenhouse caused substantial water loss and induced water deficit situation in plants. A better plant growth was noticed with zeolite treatment as compared to control. Using sub-surface irrigation remained an excellent choice for the reduction of evaporation and achieving higher water use efficiency. Application of zeolite together with subsurface irrigation may provide a favorable condition for crop production in water scarce areas.