Investigating the Interactive Effects of Gibberellic Acid and Water Regimes on Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Grain Yield

Wheat is a crucial crop in Pakistan, with production increasing due to improved practices. However, water scarcity and climate change pose significant threats. It highlights the importance of sustainable agricultural practices, including efficient water management, climate-resilient varieties, and integrated crop management. It also explores the potential of plant growth regulators like gibberellic acid in mitigating the negative impacts of stress factors on wheat yield. A field experiment was conducted in Faisalabad, Pakistan, to assess the impact of gibberellic acid (GA3) on wheat yield under varying water regimes. An RCBD split design with three replications was used. Treatments included three GA3 levels (0, 100, and 200 mg L-1) and three water regimes: control, skip irrigation at booting, and skip irrigation at grain filling. Wheat cultivar Akbar-2019 was sown in November 2023. This study investigated the interactive effects of gibberellic acid (GA3) and water regimes on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain yield. A field experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments included three levels of GA3 (0, 100, and 200 mg L-1) and three water regimes: control (four irrigations), skip irrigation at the booting stage, and skip irrigation at the grain formation stage. Results showed significant main effects of GA3 and water regimes on plant height, spike length, 1000-grain weight, grain protein content, harvest index, and inter-nodal length. The highest values for most parameters were observed in the treatment with 200 mg L-1 GA3 and skip irrigation at the grain formation stage. The interaction between GA3 and water regimes was significant for grain protein content and harvest index. Overall, the findings suggest that GA3 application, particularly at 200 mg L-1, can partially mitigate the negative impacts of water stress on wheat yield components. However, the optimal combination of GA3 and water regime may vary depending on specific environmental conditions and cultivar characteristics. Further research is needed to optimize GA3 application rates and timing for different water stress scenarios.