EFFECT OF WATER-SUPERABSORBENT AND DROUGHT ON SEEDLING ESTABLISHMENT AND GROWTH IN SOME WARM SEASON PLANTS

  • Heidari Hassan Razi University, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Kermanshah
  • Ali Hosseini Razi University, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Kermanshah
  • Iraj Nosratti Razi University, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Kermanshah
  • Mahmood Khoramivafa Razi University, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Kermanshah
Keywords: dill, emergence percentage, fenugreek, foxtail millet, limited irrigation, water-superabsorbent

Abstract

Drought is one of the most important abiotic stresses in Iran’s agriculture and annually causes many damages to plant productions. This study was designed to determine effect of water-superabsorbent polymer and drought on seedling establishment and growth in some warm season plants (foxtail millet, dill and fenugreek). This experiment was conducted as a pot experiment at Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Razi University. In the pot experiment, effect of water-superabsornbent polymer (0, 0.02, 0.04 and 0.08 grams per kilogram of soil) and drought (favorable and long-term irrigation) on warm season plants were investigated. Results showed that by increasing water-superabsorbent polymer application, seedling fresh weight, seedling dry weight, seedling height, emergence percentage and rate were increased. Drought reduced mentioned traits, but water-superabsorbent was able to reduce drought negative effects partially. Regarding results, for high emergence in foxtail millet, fenugreek and dill, application of 0.08 g of superabsorbent per kilogram of soil is usefull, especially under drought condition.

Author Biographies

Heidari Hassan, Razi University, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Kermanshah
 
Iraj Nosratti, Razi University, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Kermanshah
 
Published
2017-06-27
Section
Research articles