The Department of Biology Discusses a Doctoral Thesis on the Effect of Water Quality, Water Stress, and Potassium Concentration in Wheat Plants Irrigated with Treated Sewage Water

Ph.D. Dissertation Discussion

The Department of Biology discussed the doctoral thesis of the student (Sana Khadem Abdel Amir) entitled (Effect of water quality, water stress and potassium concentration on wheat plant irrigated with treated sewage water), under the supervision of (Prof. Dr. Abd Aoun Hashem Al-Ghanem) from the College of Science. The study aimed to:-
1- Knowing the effect of water stress on the growth and development stages of the crop.

2- Studying the best concentration level of potassium, which helps in increasing growth and productivity of wheat crops under water stress conditions and the possibility of reducing the negative impact of heavy elements.

3- Studying the effect of the interaction between different levels of water stress, added potassium, and water quality on the growth and yield of the wheat plant.

As for the main conclusions:
1- The possibility of using treated heavy water to irrigate the wheat crop if its concentration did not exceed the permissible limits.
2- It shows that high potassium levels (above the recommended amounts), especially the level (of 3000) mg. L, have a positive effect on improving the water balance of plants exposed to water stress, by increasing the potassium concentration in the leaves that regulates the opening and closing of stomata, as well as mitigating the toxic effect of heavy metals.
3- It was noticed that the accumulation of cadmium and lead varied within the different parts of the plant, so their presence in the roots was in high concentrations compared to leaves and grains.

After extensive scientific discussion and listening to the student’s defense of her thesis, her research method, and her use of sources and references, the thesis was approved with an honors grade. Congratulations to the student, her supervisors, the College of Education for Pure Sciences, and the University of Karbala for this achievement, and God Almighty grants success and payment.