Abstract :
Salinity of soil and water resources is the major problems of agriculture in Iran. In saline conditions, the availability of nutrients in soil solution is reduced and leads to disruption of plant nutrition. Therefore the role of correct nutrition in these conditions is very important .In order to study the effect of salinity levels of irrigation water and foliar application of Zn and Fe on yield and water use efficiency of Ajowan an experiment was done as split plots based on randomized complete block design with three replications in Khezri in Southern Khorasan province in 2010. Salinity levels of irrigation water (970, 3500 and 7700 µs/cm) were considered as the main plot and levels of foliar application with micronutrients (including the control, Fe, Zn and Fe + Zn with concentrations of 0.03% for Iron and 0.04% for Zinc) as sub-plot. The results showed that although salinity had not any significant effect on harvest index and 1000-seed weight, but reduced significantly seed yield and its components. Mid and high salinity treatments compared to control, declined seed yield 10% and 22%, respectively. Interactions of salinity and foliar application of Iron and Zinc on seed yield and yield components was significant. Although water use efficiency decreased under salinity condition but foliar application had no significant effect on WUE. Totally foliar application at high salinity did not affect on seed yield but in average salinity decreased the yield and in no salt conditions, increased the seed yield.
