Mitigation of the impact of water deficiency on intercropped sesame and peanut systems through foliar application of potassium-silicate and triacontanol

El-Mehy, Amira Attia; Abd-Allah, Ahmed M.; Kasem, Esam E.; Mohamed, Mohamed S.

doi:10.21608/ejar.2023.191179.1327

Mitigation of the impact of water deficiency on intercropped sesame and peanut systems through foliar application of potassium-silicate and triacontanol

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Crop Intensification Research Department, Field Crops Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Egypt

² Water Requirements and Field Irrigation Res. Depart., Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Egypt

³ Sandy and Calcareous Soil Res. Dept., Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Egypt

10.21608/ejar.2023.191179.1327

Abstract

Climatic changes are increasing over time adversely affecting water availability and crop productivity. Potassium silicate (K-Si) or Triacontanol (TRIA) reportedly plays an important role in mitigating water stress. A field experiment was carried out during of 2021 and 2022 seasons to assess the effect of three irrigation treatments (120, 100 and 80% ETo) and two foliar spraying (potassium silicate (K-Si) and triacontanol (TRAI)), compared to control (no spraying) on the yield, water and land equivalent ratio as well as farmer’s benefits of sesame intercropped with peanut system. The results indicated that the highest yield of both crops was obtained under irrigation with 120% ETo and spraying with K-Si. Foliar spraying with K-Si or TRAI mitigates the adverse effects of low irrigation water application and its adverse effects on yield and its components in both crops. The average values of applied irrigation water were 9654, 8045 and 6436 m3/ha for irrigation with 120, 100 and 80% ETo, respectively. Irrigation with 100% ETo (saved 17% of the applied water under 120% ETo) and spraying with K-Si produced higher yield of both crops than the obtained under irrigation with 120% ETo and no spraying. Furthermore, the highest value of water equivalent ratio (WER), land equivalent ratio (LER), total income (TI) and monetary advantage index (MAI) of sesame intercropped with peanut system were found under irrigation with 120% ETo and spraying with K-Si.

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