The effect of microelements spraying on growth, qualitative and quantitative grain corn in Iran

ABSTRACT : Most of the soils of Iran are calcareous and micro nutrient deficiency is a usual problem in such soils. Then, this study was conducted in research site of Islamic Azad University-Isfahan branch to evaluate effects of foliar spraying of micro elements on grain yield of corn (single cross 302) in 2009-2010 years. Nine fertilizer treatments were evaluated in a randomized complete blocks design with three replications. Experimental treatments were sprayer of iron: 3 mg/lit, zinc: 4mg/lit, copper: 5 mg/lit, manganese: 2.5 mg/ lit, boron: 1.5 mg/lit, iron and zinc: 3 and 4 mg/lit, copper and manganese 5 and 2.5 mg/lit , iron, zinc, copper and manganese 3, 4, 5, and 2.5 mg/lit and water as control. Results showed that microelements spraying was effective on plant height, leaf area index, total dry weight, ear diameter, grain weight, grain yield, and grain protein amount but not on harvest index. The highest amounts of mentioned traits were belonged to Fe +Zn treatment except plant height which its highest amount was obtained in Cu +Mn treatment. The highest and the lowest amounts of harvest index were related to Fe + Zn and Cu + Mn but without any significant differences. According to our results, microelements spraying have a great role in yield increasing of grain corn in Iran, especially for iron +zinc and copper + manganese.