Evaluation of the Effect of Urea Fertilizer on Wheat Growth and Yield under Saline Soil Conditions

الملخص

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a staple food crop in Afghanistan, but its production is severely affected by soil salinity, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different levels of urea fertilizer on wheat growth and yield under saline soil conditions in Balkh Province. The experiment was conducted in 2023 –2024 at the research farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Balkh University, using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications and six treatments (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 kg/ha of urea). Standard soil analysis was conducted before planting, and irrigation was applied in five stages during the growing period. Growth parameters, including days to heading, plant height, spike height, tiller number per plant, 1000-grain weight, and grain yield, were recorded.  Results revealed that urea application significantly improved most growth and yield attributes. The highest grain yield (2316.8 kg/ha) was obtained with 250 kg/ha (T1), followed by 200 kg/ha (T2); both treatments significantly outperformed as compared with the control. Plant height, spike height, and number of tillers also increased with higher urea levels. Statistical analysis demonstrated significant differences at 5% levels among treatments. The study concludes that moderate to high levels of urea (200–250 kg/ha) can enhance wheat performance under saline conditions, improving both vegetative growth and final grain yield of wheat. These findings support targeted nitrogen management to increase productivity in salt-affected soils.