Investigation of the Magnesium Content and Productivity of Wheat Genotypes Under Organic and Conventional Inorganic Fertilizer Application

This study investigates Mg concentrations and productivity in seven spring wheat genotypes (YR, Local, Sids 12, P3, P5, IC8, and IC17) by evaluating their nutritional content and their responses to organic and conventional fertilization methods. We employed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications and observed that conventional fertilization resulted in higher Mg levels than organic fertilization (2.12 vs. 1.54 g kg^-1). The application of conventional fertilizers also resulted in a higher shoot dry weight compared with the application of organic fertilizers (4.6 vs. 1.88 g), with Sids 12 recording the highest shoot dry weight (4.79 g), followed by YR (3.39 g). Furthermore, conventional fertilization consistently yielded a higher grain output than that of organic fertilization across both seasons. P5 and IC17 had superior grain yield and Mg content in grains, respectively. Wheat yields were lower under organic fertilization than under conventional practices. Some genotypes, such as YR and IC17, experienced significant yield reductions under organic conditions, whereas others, such as P5, displayed resilience or even enhanced yields. The IC17 genotype demonstrated minimal variation in Mg content in grains between conventional and organic fertilization, highlighting genotype-specific responses to fertilization methods. Thus, selecting and cultivating the appropriate genotype can facilitate achieving nutritionally adequate wheat production under organic farming conditions in Saudi Arabia.