Effect of potassium sulfate on the physiological characteristics of canola cultivars in late season drought stress conditions

Abstract

In order to reduce the damage caused by the late-season drought stress of canola, a factorial split-plot experiment was performed based on the randomized complete blocks design with three replications in Karaj, Iran. The treatments were Potassium sulfate in two levels, including application and non-application of potassium sulfate, irrigation at three levels including normal irrigation (control), restricted irrigation from the flowering and pod formation stage, as factorial were in main plots and winter canola cultivars including Opera, L72, KR1, GKH3705, GKH0224 were in subplots. The simple effect of irrigation and potassium sulfate on all of the studied traits and the simple effect of cultivar on all traits except chlorophyll b were significant. The interaction effect of irrigation × cultivar on soluble carbohydrate, stomatal resistance, proline content, chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll content was significant. The interaction effect of irrigation × potassium sulfate on the amount of soluble carbohydrates, stomatal resistance and proline content of leaves was significant. In irrigation interruption from the pod formation stage, the promising line of L72, and in irrigation interruption from the flowering stage, the Neptune cultivar exhibited the most positive effect of potassium application on the studied traits. As a result, the application of potassium sulfate in addition to the L72 and Neptune cultivars is recommended in areas similar to the tested area encountering the late-season drought stress.