Enhancing durum wheat growth and productivity in arid soils via seed irradiation with gamma rays and the foliar application of nano Cu

The current study aims at increasing durum wheat productivity under arid-conditions via following two strategies: seed irradiation with γ-rays and spraying plants with nano Cu. Wheat seeds were irradiated in a⁶⁰Co Gamma Irradiation Unit to achieve 0Gy (R₀), 50Gy (R₅₀),100Gy (R₁₀₀), 150Gy (R₁₅₀) and 200Gy (R₂₀₀), while nano Cu-was prepared in lab. A field study of a split-plot design was then conducted for 2-seasons, in which foliar applications with nano-Cu were applied in main plots i.e. 30 (nCu₃₀), 60 (nCu₆₀) and 90 mg Cu L⁻¹ (nCu₉₀) versus the recommended Cu-mineral dose (Cu₆₀) while irradiated seeds were applied in subplots. The obtained results showed that the highest increases in wheat growth and yield were attained for Cu₆₀. Comparable increases in grain yield were noticed for nCu₆₀ foliar application. Likewise, γ-irradiation (≤150Gy) effectively enhanced wheat growth and productivity. Generally, wheat growth parameters and productivity were correlated significantly and positively with plant uptake of Cu, N, Fe, Zn and Mn. Concerning combination between these two factors, the highest increase in grain yield was noted for R₁₅₀nCu₉₀, recording 4.7 and 5.5 Mg ha⁻¹ in the first and second seasons respectively. These yields were over 20 % higher than R₀Cu₆₀ treatment in the two seasons of study. We concluded that seed irradiation with γ-rays up to 150 Gy and nano-Cu spray (nCu60) is guaranteed to increase wheat productivity grown on arid soils.