EFFECT OF MAGNETIZED IRRIGATION WATER AND FERTILIZER LEVELS ON GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS OF BREAD WHEAT

To evaluate the response of wheat of (Triticum aestivum L.) growth to irrigation with magnetized water and levels of fertilizers, afield experiment was carried out during winter seasons of 2008 - 2009 and 2009 - 2010 at the farm of Department of Field Crop Sciences, College of Agriculture,University of Baghdad. A randomized complete block design by split plots arrangement was used with three replications. The main plot included four levels of magnetic water strength 0, 500, 1000 and 2000 GS, while the subplot included four levels of fertilizer 0, 1/2, 2/3 and 1F. The results showed that no significant effect of magnetized irrigation water on all growth characteristics studied in both seasons. While the levels of fertilizers significantly affected growth characteristics of wheat in both seasons, and fertilizer level of 1 F caused greater effect on height of plant 85.34 cm, number of tillers 378.92 tiller.m(-2) , single leaf area 43.51cm(2) , dry weight of plant 1677.75 g.m(-2) , and 83.91cm, 382.83 tiller.m(-2), 41.47cm(2) and 1564.75 g.m(-2) at first and second season respectively as compared with others fertilizer levels. Also fertilizer level of 1 F affected crop growth rate and net assimilation rate at 60 days after sowing at both seasons, crop growth rate recorded 4.23 and 4.26 g.m(-2).day(-1) , and net assimilation rate 0.0345 and 0.0353 g.m(-2).day(-1) at both seasons respectively. It was concluded that there was no significant of bread wheat cultivar IPA 99 to magnetized irrigation responses water. Irrigation with magnetized water did not lead to reduction of fertilizer level usually applied to bread wheat.