Study the Effect of Zinc Foliar Application on the Quantitative and Qualitative yield of Grain Corn under Water Stress

Document Type : Research Paper

Abstract

In order to determine the effects of zinc foliar application on yield and its components single cross 704 under water stress condition, experiment was carried out at Agricultural Research Center of Varamin, in Southeast of Tehran, during 2007-2008. Field experiment was conducted in split plot design based on randomized completely block at three replications. Main plots included water stress at three levels of irrigation, about %50 field capacity (without stress), irrigation stress based on %60 field capacity and irrigation stress based on %70 field capacity and sub plots were treatments of foliar application at four levels, zinc sulfate, zinc chelate, foliar application with water and non foliar application. Results showed that maximum quantities were in irrigation about %50 field capacity (without stress) on traits such as seed yield, 1000 kernel weight, stalk diameter, percentage of seed protein, diameter of ear, number leaves of ear, ratio of grain weight, ear weight and minimum quantities were in irrigation stress based on %70 field capacity. In foliar application, maximum quantities were on 1000 kernel weight, seeds per row, total number of seeds in ear, percentage of seed protein, percentage of seed oil, foliar application zinc sulfate and maximum quantities foliar application chelate was for traits seed yield, stalk diameter, percentage of seed humidity. Therefore, Interaction, foliar application zinc sulfate and irrigation about %50 field capacity (without stress), were better than others. Means comparisons effect of foliar application at this test showed that, foliar application ZnSo4 and zinc chelate were better, respectively.