Effect of Seed Priming with ZnO Nanoparticles and Saline Irrigation Water in Yield and Nutrients Uptake by Wheat Plants

Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses that affect crop production in arid and semiarid areas. The nano-priming can be applied to improve the seeds germination and seedling establishment and enhance plant growth in addition to improving resistance to abiotic stresses. A pot experiment was conducted to study the influence of seed priming with (50 mg L−1) ZnO nanoparticles (particle size < 50 nm) and irrigation with saline water on the yield and uptake of some nutrients (N, P, K, and Zn) by durum wheat variety (Triticum Durum L., cv. Acsad1105). Wheat variety was grown in calcareous soil under four levels of saline irrigation water (0.52, 4.42, 6.84 and 9.3 dS m−1). Increasing water salinity caused a gradual and remarkable decrease in the grain yield, where the reduction was the highest (42.8%) at the higher salinity level (9.13 dS m−1). Seed priming with ZnO NPs increased the grain yield by 36.2, 24.1, 13.2 and 5.6% for the investigated salinity levels, respectively, compared with non-primed seeds. The uptake of macronutrients (N, P and K) by both the straw and grains was significantly increased by increasing the salinity level up to 6.84 dS m−1, particularly in the primed seeds. On the other hand, Zn uptake was significantly decreased in the two treatments with an increasing salinity level of irrigation water. However, field studies may further enhance the mechanistic understanding of the pertinence of NPs in seed priming and salinity-tolerant plants.