Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Agricultural Jihad Organization of Lorestan Province,, Khorramabad,, Iran
2 Horticulture Department , Lorestan University, Agriculture Faculty , Khorramabad, Iran
3 Chegeni Agricultural Jihad Management,, Khorramabad, Iran
4 Department of Economic, Social and Extension Research, Isfahan Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: The optimal seed rate is an important management factor to improve wheat yield. Increasing in the price of chemical fertilizers has made farmers to use liquid fertilizers to compensate for the lack of nutrients. Foliar fertilization is a method of feeding plants in which both the stomata and the leaf epidermis are used for absorption, and its effectiveness may vary depending on the environment, the physiological state of plant growth, and the state of nutrition. Foliar application method with macro and micro nutrients is more effective than other methods in terms of achieving maximum yield and reducing the loss of nutrients, and it increases amount of mineral elements in the plant and improves crop yield.
Methodology: This research was carried out as split plot experiment based on a randomized complete blocks design with three replications during 2022-2023 cropping season. Seed rate was considered as the main factor and foliar application as a sub factor. In this study, 9 seed rate levels including 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, 200, 220 and 240 kg ha-1 were located in main plots and 4 foliar application levels including foliar application with amino acid (2 L ha-1), NPK (2 kg ha-1), the combination of amino acid + NPK (1 L amino acid + 1 kg NPK per ha), and control treatment were located in sub plots.
Research findings: With increasing seed rate levels, plant height, the number of spikes and iron content in seed increased, but spike length, the number of seeds per spike, grains weight, zinc content in seed and grain protein percentage decreased. Maxiumum grain yield was recorded for 140 kg ha-1 and then grain yield was reduced with increasing of the seed rate levels. The highest values of the plant height, number of seeds per spike, grain weight, grain yield, iron and zinc content and protein percentage in grain were obtained from foliar application of amino acid +NPK, however the highest number of spikes and spike length were recorded for NPK treatment. By increasing the seed rate under foliar application of amino acid + NPK, the conten of iron increased, but the content of zinc decreased in seeds. The protein percentage was also increased with foliar application treatment of amino acid + NPK treatment up to 140 kg ha-1 rate of seed and then gradually decreased. The highest wheat grain yield (3383 kg ha-1) was obtained from 140 kg ha-1 seed rate under dryland condittions of Khorramabad
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