Cycocel, iron and zinc effects on yield and physiological characteristics of wheat under drought stress conditions

Abstract

A factorial split-plot experiment was performed in order to investigate the effect of foliar application of cycocel, iron and zinc micronutrients on the yield and some physiological traits of wheat under drought stress conditions in the form of complete randomized block design with three replications for two crop years in Robat Karim area (south of Tehran). In this study, irrigation at two levels (i1: normal irrigation and i2: irrigation interruption from the beginning of the reproductive stage) was considered as the main factor, the cycocel application at two levels (c1: non-application and c2: cycocel application at 0.5 L ha−1) and foliar application of micronutrients at four levels (f1: pure water (control), f2: iron foliar application, f3: zinc foliar application, and f4: iron + zinc foliar application (each at a ratio of 0.3%) were considered as the secondary factors. The application of cycocel under both normal irrigation and stress conditions at the reproductive stage increased seed yield and yield components. Iron + zinc foliar application with a mean of 5543 kg ha−1 had the highest seed yield while the lowest value belonged to the control treatment (pure water) with a mean of 4638 kg ha−1. In general, given the positive effect of cycocel and iron and zinc micronutrients on wheat crop characteristics, the application of these treatments under normal irrigation conditions and late season drought stress are recommended for the development of cultivation in temperate cold regions with semi-arid climate.