اثر محلول پاشي عناصر كم مصرف بر خصوصيات كمي و كيفي ارزن مرواريدي رقم نوتريفيد (Pennisetum glacum) تحت تنش خشكي

Effect of Foliar Application of Micronutrients on Qualitative and Quantitative Characteristics of Pearl millet (Pennisetum glacum) under Drought Stress

To evaluate the effect of foliar application of Mn and Zn micronutrients on qualitative and quantitative characteristics of pearl millet under drought stress a field experiment was conducted in 2008. The experiment was conducted in split plot design with tree replications. Main plots were assigned different levels of drought stresses (S1= full irrigation, S2= withholding irrigation in vegetative growth stage, and S3= withholding irrigation in flowering stage). Sub plots were four levels of micronutrient foliar applications (Fi= no foliar application, F2= 3000 ppm foliar application of manganese sulfate, F3= 3000 ppm foliar application of zinc sulfate, and F4= foliar application of manganese sulfate + zinc sulfate). Results indicated that the highest fresh forage (41073 kg/ha) and dry matter (9775 kg/ha) were obtained from S1F4 treatment. Furthermore, the highest ash (12.07%), crude protein (18.65%) and nitrogen (2.83%) achieved from this treatment (S1F4). Moreover the highest zinc (240.8 mg.g-1) and manganese (43.5 mg.g-1) content in millet forage also was obtained from treatment of full irrigation with separate foliar applications of these two elements. The most crude fiber and phosphorus content in millet forage obtained from full irrigation treatment. But, this treatment did not have significant effect on potassium, manganese and zinc content in forage. Meanwhile, foliar treatments didnʹt have significant effect on crude fiber, potassium content in millet forage.