| Author(s) | Ibrahim M. Aref and Loutfy I. El-Juhany |
| Affiliation | Plant Production Department, College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, King Saud University, P. O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia |
| Title | Growth Response of Acacia seyal, Acacia negrii and Acacia asak Seedlings to Water Stress under Field Conditions |
| Source | Journal of King Saud University. Agricultural Sciences. Volume 17, No 2. (2005/1425) |
| Abstract | A field experiment was carried out at the Agricultural Research and Experiments Station of King Saud University in October 1997 and lasted for two years. The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of drought stress on the growth of Acacia asak, Acacia negrii and Acacia seyal. Six months old seedlings of these species were planted in the field using a randomized complete block design. Seedlings were irrigated at 160, 255 or 500 mm of a class "A" evaporation-pan records. The irrigation regimes significantly affected most of the traits measured for acacia species. The trees in severe water stress treatment (500 mm) had significantly lower stem height, diameter, leaf area and dry matter production compared with the trees in well-watered treatment (160 mm). Growth traits of trees in moderate water stress treatments (255 mm) did not change significantly from those of either severe water stress or well-watered treatment. The species responded differently to irrigation regimes used. Stem height, stem diameter, diameter of the main root, mean diameter of lateral roots and dry matter production of A. asak were significantly the least among the three species. Stem height, stem diameter, total leaf area and dry matter of A. seyal were significantly greater than those of A. negrii. Allocation of dry matter between different seedling parts did not change due to water stress. Keywords: Acacia seyal, A. negrii, A. asak, Water stress, Evaporation pan, Growth. |
