Effect of different irrigation treatments and plant density on yield and yield components of Dragon’s head (Lallemantia iberica Fish. et Mey.)

Abstract

In order to investigate the effect of different irrigation treatments and plant density on yield and yield components of Dragon’s head (Lallemantia iberica Fish. et Mey.), an experiment was carried out as split-plot based on randomized complete block design with four replications at the Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Iran in 2012. Irrigation treatments (I1, I2, I3, I4 and I5: irrigation after 70, 100, 130, 160 and 190 mm evaporation from class A pan, respectively) were assigned to main plots and four plant density levels (D1, D2, D3 and D4: 200, 300, 400, 500 plant/m2) were allocated to the sub plots. Biological and grain yield, number of lateral stem, number of grain and capsule per plant, number of capsule per lateral stem, 1000 grain weight and harvest index were recorded. Results showed that irrigation treatments had significant effects on all of the characteristics with the exception of harvest index and 1000 grain weight. Means compression showed that highest biological and grain yield, numbers of lateral stem, numbers of capsule per plant, number of capsule per lateral stem, number of grain per plant were achieved under I1 treatments. Plant density did not have significant effects on biological yield and 1000 grain weight. Irrigation after 70 mm evaporation from class A pan produced more grain yield, but difference between I1 and I2 treatments was not significant. The greatest grain yield was obtained from 400 plant/m2. According to the results obtained, irrigation after 100 mm evaporation from class a pan and density of 400 plant/m2 is the best combination for Dragon’s head grain production.