Assessment of Zinc, Boron, and Iron Foliar Application on Wheat Yield and Yield Components Under Drought Stress

Abstract

ABSTRACT While eliminating their deficiency, leaf consumption of micronutrients enhances the quantitative and qualitative yield of the plant. To examine the impact of irrigation regimes and foliar application of zinc, boron, and iron on wheat yield and yield components, an experiment was conducted in the form of split plots in Varamin (Iran) over two crop years 2016–17 and 2017–18. The main factor of irrigation regimes included three levels (Tr: regular irrigation, Ts: irrigation interruption at the onset of stem growth and Tss: irrigation interruption at the onset of stem growth and seed filling) and the secondary factor included foliar application of micronutrients at eight levels (MC: control), MB: foliar application of boron (B), MZ: zinc (Zn), MI: iron (Fe), MZB: Zn + B, MBI: Fe + B, MZI: Zn + Fe and MZBI: Zn + B + Fe). Irrigation interruption at the onset of stem growth and seed filling (Tss) led to a significant reduction in seed yield and its components. With an average of 6788 kg ha−1, the highest seed yield belonged to normal irrigation treatment. With an average of 6549 kg ha−1, Fe + Zn + B treatment had the highest seed yield, indicating a 17% increase compared to the control treatment. Given the positive effect of iron, zinc, and boron micronutrients on wheat agronomic characteristics, these treatments under normal irrigation and drought stress conditions are suggested to be applied for the development of wheat cultivation in cold temperate areas with semi-arid climate.