Table 5 Leaf relative water content and leaf electrolytes leakage of wheat as influenced by mulch treatments, varieties and their interactions under water stress

Control (unmulched and irrigated)

70.733 ± 0.74^ab

62.267 ± 1.27^d

66.500^b

99.27 ± 2^de

119.70 ± 2^b

109.48^b

Mulch 1 Mg ha⁻¹ + water

72.157 ± 1.11^ab

64.260 ± 1.64 ^cd

68.208^ab

92.85 ± 3^ef

112.38 ± 2^c

102.62^c

Mulch 3 Mg ha⁻¹ + water

72.403 ± 2.83^ab

66.913 ± 1.42^b−d

69.658^ab

91.00 ± 2^f−h

104.96 ± 2^d

97.98 ^cd

Mulch 5 Mg ha⁻¹ + water

74.117 ± 1.22^a

69.037 ± 0.08^a−c

71.577^a

84.37 ± 3^hi

91.37 ± 3 ^fg

87.87^f

Water stress (40% soil field capacity)

68.773 ± 2.88^a−c

55.827 ± 1.13^e

62.300^c

99.59 ± 2^de

136.84 ± 1^a

118.21^a

Mulch (1 Mg ha⁻¹) + water stress

70.200 ± 3.01^ab

62.410 ± 3.88^d

66.305^bc

90.00 ± 3^f−h

102.70 ± 0^d

96.35^de

Mulch (3 Mg ha⁻¹) + water stress

70.413 ± 0.22^ab

62.660 ± 0.09^d

66.537^b

85.26 ± 3 ^g−i

100.66 ± 1^d

92.96^e

Mulch (5 Mg ha⁻¹) + water stress

71.337 ± 0.09^ab

63.553 ± 3.66 ^cd

67.445^b

81.08 ± 3ⁱ

90.58 ± 3^f−h

85.83^f

Mean

71.267^a

63.366^b

90.43^b

107.40^a