Abstract
In order to study the effects of applying the micronutrients zinc, manganese, and boron, and to compare the effects that incorporating them in the soil and spraying them on the crop on seed oil and protein contents and percentages, a study was conducted based on the factorial design with the two factors of incorporating these micronutrients in the soil and spraying them on the crop, in 16 treatments and four replications (a total of 64 trials), in 2009-2010 in Dasht-e-Naz in Sari of northern Iran. The treatments were as follows: T1=control, T2=Znf, T3=Mnf, T4=Bf, T5=Zns, T6=Zns+Bf, T7=Zns+Mnf, T8=Zns+Znf, T9=Mns, T10=Mns+Bf, T11=Mns+Mnf, T12=Mns+Znf, T13=Bs, T14=Bs+Bf, T15=Bs+Mns, T16=Bs+Znf. Results obtained showed that the highest seed oil percentage (25.03%) was achieved by spraying zinc on the crop, and that the biggest seed oil yield (359.31 Kg.h) was obtained by applying manganese to the soil. Results of the comparison of the means indicated that the highest seed protein content (36.12%) was achieved by spraying boron on the crop, and the greatest seed protein yield (545.54 Kg.h) was obtained when manganese was added to the soil. These results also showed that the largest number of total pods per plant (71.05), and the biggest seed yield (152.9 g.m-2) were achieved by applying manganese to the soil. In the comparison of the interaction effects of the data, it was also shown that, although the highest seed oil percentage belonged to the spraying of zinc on the crop, yet the greatest seed yield among all the treatments (170.7 g.m-2) was that of the treatment of adding manganese to the soil plus spraying zinc on the crop, in which the greatest number of pods per plant (77.87) and the highest seed protein yield (631.1 Kg.h) and the highest seed oil yield (284.5 Kg.h) were obtained.
Highlights
Excessive application of macronutrient fertilizers, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, the fact that micronutrients are not used in crop production in Mazandaran, and the calcareous nature of soils in the fields of eastern Mazandaran, have resulted in micronutrient deficiencies
These results indicated that, among the treatments of spraying the micronutrients on the crop, the highest seed oil yield (317.71 Kg.h) was achieved when manganese was sprayed on the crop, and that this treatment had a statistically significant difference with the others
The treatments of adding zinc to the soil and the control came second and third with 35.45 and 35.09 percent, respectively, while the lowest seed protein percentage (32.73%) was observed in the treatment of adding boron to the soil (Table 2). These results indicated that, among the treatments of spraying the micronutrients on the crop, the highest seed protein percentage (36.12%) was achieved when boron was sprayed on the crop, while the lowest seed protein percentage (32.24%) belonged to the treatment of spraying zinc on the crop (Table 3)
Summary
Excessive application of macronutrient fertilizers, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, the fact that micronutrients are not used in crop production in Mazandaran, and the calcareous nature of soils in the fields of eastern Mazandaran, have resulted in micronutrient deficiencies. Soybean is very sensitive to manganese deficiency, a prevalent condition in neutral or alkali soil with high pH, and this deficiency results in short plants having yellow leaves. Since Mazandaran is the center of soybean production in the north of the country, studying the effects of micronutrients on the qualitative features of soybean seed, such as the oil and protein yields and percentages, is very important. This study was conducted in the region of Dasht-e-Naz to investigate the effects of applying the microelements zinc, manganese, and boron (and to compare the effects of the methods of applying them –i.e., incorporating them in the soil or spraying them on the crop) on the seed oil percentage and seed oil and protein yields
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