Effect of Foliar Spray of Boron and Zinc on the Yield and Yield Components of Spring Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) under Late-Season Water Limitation

بوم شناسی کشاورزی

Article 15, Volume 10, Issue 3 - Serial Number 37, September 2018, Pages 823-840   

Document Type: Scientific - Research

DOI: 10.22067/jag.v10i3.60741

Authors

Somayeh Soheili Movahhed¹; Saead Khomari^{* 1}; Parisa Sheikhzadeh¹; Bahram Alizadeh²

¹Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran

²Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran

Abstract

Introduction
 The stable nature of plants constantly makes them to expose to a variety of environmental conditions that are often stressful and undesirable. Drought or water deficit stress is the most important environmental factor which has severe negative impacts on crops yield, especially when the water deficit stress occurs in the flowering stage, it will affect the crop production. The nutritional imbalance in plants is one of the effects of drought stress. Proper plants nutrition under stress conditions may partially help plants against various stresses. The growth and yield of plants under stress conditions can be improved by spraying foliar micro nutrients. Boron is essential for protein synthesis, seed and cell wall formation, pollen germination and pollen tube growth. Zinc application has a significant impact on basic plant processes such as metabolism and nitrogen uptake, improving the quality of protein structure, photosynthesis, resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses in plants and their protection against oxidative damage. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of foliar spray of boron and zinc on yield and yield components of spring safflower (cv. Mahalli-e Esfahan) under late-season water deficit in Ardabil province.
Materials and Methods
 The field experiment was conducted at the Research Farm of the University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran in 2014 and 2015. The experimental arrangement was split factorial based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. The main-plot factor consisted of three levels of water treatments (S1: full irrigation until end of season, S2: without irrigation in flowering, S3: without irrigation in seed filling) and the sub-plot factor included factorial combination of Boron (B1: 0, B2: 350, B3: 700 ppm) and Zinc (Z1: 0, Z2: 1000, Z3: 2000 ppm). B was added as Boric Acid (H3BO3) and Zn as Zinc Sulfate (ZnSO4). The treatments were applied during anthesis (when 50% of the plants were at anthesis stage) as foliar applications (Dordas et al., 2007). All other agricultural practices (weeds control and irrigation), were performed when they were required and as recommended for safflower production. The measured traits included plant height, fertile and infertile capitoles per plant, grain number per capitole and plant, unfilled grain percentage, 1000-kernel weight, grain yield, biological yield and harvest index. Analyses of variance and comparison of means at P≤0.05 were carried out, using SAS 9.1 software. The means were compared using LSD test.
Results and Discussion
 Combined analysis of variance of the data showed that year was significant for all the traits (except infertile capitoles per plant). During the second year, there was no significant difference among all the treatments due to heavy rainfalls. The results of the mean comparison of data showed that all parameters were superior in the second year compared to the first year. Also Seed number per plant, 1000-kernel weight, seed yield and biological yield were significantly affected by drought stress. The results demonstrated that water deficit stress at flowering and seed filling stages significantly decreased grain yield compared to full irrigation (7.94% at flowering and 8.25% at seed filling). The interaction effect of Boron×Zinc was significant in all considered characteristics (except plant height and biological yield). The treatments of B3Z2, B2Zn2 and B1Zn3 had the greatest increase of these parameters in comparison with B1Z1 (control). The treatment of B3Z2 had the greatest increase (47.66%) of grain yield in comparison with B1Z1 (control). Under stress conditions during flowering and grain filling stages, number of infertile capitoles per plant, 1000-grain weight and grain hollowness were considerably improved through micronutrients foliar application. Boron and Zinc foliar application significantly improved most traits under water stress levels.
Acknowledgments
 We would like to thank from the Faculty of Agriculture, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, for supporting this study.

Keywords

Drought stress; grain yield; Micronutrients; Yield components

References

Aggrawal, P.K., Khanna Chopra, R., and Sinha, S.K. 1984. Changes in leaf water potential in relation to growth and dry matter production. In the Chickpea pp.168-169. C.A.B. International, UK.

Aghighi-Shahverdikandi, M., Khodadadi, A.R., and Heidari, F. 2012. Evaluation of Boron foliar application and irrigation withholding on qualitative traits of safflower. International Journal of Farming and Allied Sciences 1(1): 16-19.

Ahmadi, J., Seyfi, M.M., and Amini, M. 2012. Effect of spraying micronutrients Fe, Zn and Ca on grain and oil yield of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) varieties. Electronic Journal of Crop Production 5(3): 115-130. (In Persian with English Summary)

Ahmadi, M. 2010. Effect of zinc and nitrogen fertilizer rates on yield and yield components of oil seed rape (Brassieca napus L.). World Applied Sciences Journal 10(3): 298-303.

Alahdadi, I., Oraki, H., and Parhizkar-Khajani, F. 2014. Changes in morphological and physiological characteristics of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) hybrids in relation to the water deficit stress. African Journal of Agricultural Research 9(30): 2324-2331.

Alloway, B.J. 2004. Zinc in Soils and Crop Nutrition. International Zinc Association (IZA). Belgium, 128 p.

Arab, S., Baradaran-Firouzabadi, M., Asghari, H.R., Gholami, A., and Rahimi, M. 2016. The effect of ascorbic acid and sodium nitroprusside foliar application on seed yield, oil and some agronomical traits of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) under water deficit stress. Journal of Environmental Stresses in Crop Sciences 9(1): 69-87. (In Persian with English Summary)

Arnon, I. 1972. Crop Production in Dry Areas. Vol. II: Systematic treatment of the principal crops. Leonard Hill, London.

Ashri, A., Zimmer, D.E., Urie, A.L., Cahaner, A., and Marani, A. 1974. Evaluation of the world collection of safflower, Carthamus tinctorius L. IV. Yield and yield components and their relationships. Crop Science 14: 799–802.

Aytac, Z., Gurmezoglu, N., Sirel, Z., Tolay, I., and Torun, A.A. 2014. The Effect of zinc on yield, yield components and micronutrient concentrations in the seeds of safflower genotypes (Carthamus tinctorius L.). Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca 42(1): 202-208.

Azizi, K., Norouzian, A., Heidari, S., and Yaghoubi, M. 2010. The study of effect of zinc and boron foliar application on yield, yield components, seed oil and protein content and growth indices of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) in Khorramabad climatic conditions. Journal of Agronomy Science 4(5): 2-16. (In Persian with English Summary)

Banks, L.W. 2004. Effect of timing of foliar zinc fertilizer on yield component of soybeans. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 22: 226-231.

Barmaki, Y., Jalili, F., Eivazi, A.R., and Rezaei, A. 2010. Effects of foliars application of zinc, iron and boron on yield and quality of two cultivars of sunflower oil. Journal of Research in Crop Sciences 2(6): 13-26. (In Persian with English Summary)

Bellaloui, K.N., Reddy, A.M., and Abel, C.A. 2010. Nitrogen Metabolism and Seed Composition as Influ-enced by Foliar Boron Application in Soybean. Plant and Soil 336: 143-155.

Bowyzys, T., and Krauz, A. 2000. Effect of boron fertilizers yield content and uptake of boron by spring oil seed rape variety star. Rosliny Oleiste 21: 813-817.

Boyer, J.S. 1982. Plant productivity and the environment. Science 218: 443-448.

Brown, P.H., Cakmak, I., and Zhang, Q. 1993. Form and function of zinc plants. In: Robson. A.D., (Ed.). In Zinc in Soils and Plants. Springer Netherlands, p. 93-106.

Cakmak, I. 2008. Enrichment of cereal grains with zinc: Agronomic or genetic biofortification? Plant and Soil 302(1-2): 1-17.

Champolivier, L., and Merrien, A. 1996. Effects of water stress at different growth stages of Brassica napus L. var. oleifera on yield, yield components and seed quality. European Journal of Agronomy 5: 153-160.

Dajue, L., and Mundel, H.H. 1996. Safflower. International plant genetic resources institute, Rome, Italy. Marschner, H. 1995. Mineral nutrition of higher plants. 2nd Ed. Academic Press, 890 p.

Devi, K.N., Singh, L.N.K., Singh, M.S., Singh, S.B., and Singh, K.K. 2012. Influence of sulphur and boron fertilization on yield, quality, nutrient uptake and economics of soybean (Glycine max L.) under upland conditions. Journal of Agricultural Science 4 (4) : 1-10.

Dordas, C. 2006a. Foliar boron application affects lint and seed yield and improves seed quality of cotton grown on calcareous soils. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 76: 19-28.

Dordas, C. 2006b. Foliar boron application improves seed set, seed yield, and seed quality of alfalfa. Agronomy Journal 98: 907-913.

Dordas, C., Apostolides, G.E., and Goundra, O. 2007. Boron application affects seed yield and seed quality of sugar beets. Journal of Agricultural Science 145: 377-384.

Ebrahimian, E., Baybordi, A., Seyyedi, S.M., and Mohammadi Kia, R. 2015. Effects of nitrogen, zinc and water salinity levels on yield, quality indices and nutrient uptake in canola (Brassica napus L.) Okapi variety. Journal of Agroecology 7(1): 120-126. (In Persian with English Summary)

Eshghizade, H.R. and Ehsanzadeh, P. 2009. Maize hybrids performance under differing irrigationregimes: 1- chlorophyll fluorescence, growth and grain yield. Iranian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 40: 144-135. (In Persian with English Summary)

Farid, N., and Ehsanzadeh, P. 2006. Yield and yield components of spring sown safflower genotypes and their response to shading on inflorescence and the adjacent green tissue in Isfahan. Journal of Science and Technology of Agriculture and Natural Resources 10: 189-199. (In Persian with English Summary)

Farokhinia, M., Roshdi, M., Pasban-Eslam, B., and Sasandoust, R. 2011. Study of some physiological traits and yield in spring safflower under water deficit stress. Iranian Journal of Field Crop Science 42: 545-553. (In Persian with English Summary)

Galavi, M., Heidari, M., and Zamani, M. 2007. Effects of zinc sulphate spray on quality, yield and yield components of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). Journal of Plant Nutrition 18(1): 179-200.

Gobarah, M.E., Mohamed, M.H., and Tawfik, M.M. 2006. Effect of phosphorus fertilizer and foliar spraying with zinc on growth, yield and quality of groundnut under reclaimed sandy soils. Journal of Applied Science Research 2(8): 491- 496.

Grant, C.A., and Baily, L.D. 1998. Fertility management in canola production. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 73(3): 651-670.

Grewal, H.S., and Williams, R. 2000. Zinc nutrition affects alfalfa response to water stress and excessive moisture. Journal of Plant Nutrition 23: 942-962.

Guertal, E.A. 2004. Boron fertilization of bentagrass. Crop Science 44: 204-208.

Heydari-sharifabad, H. 2000. Plants, drought and famine. Ministry of Agriculture. Teaching and Research Department of Forests and Range. Publication No. 250 (In Persian)

Hosainpanahi, F., Kafi, M., Parsa, M., Nasiri-mahalati, M., and Banayan, M. 2012. The evaluation of yield and yield component of tolerant and sensitive wheat cultivar subjected to water deficit stress used by penmon montith model. Journal of Environmental Stresses in Crop Sciences 4(1): 47-63. (In Persian with English Summary)

Jabeen, N., Ahmad, R., Soltana, R., and Saleem, R. 2013. Investigation on foliar spray of boron and manganese on oil content and concentrations of fatty acids in seeds of sunflower plant raised through saline water irrigation. Journal of Plant Nutrition 36 (6): 1001-1011.

Kamaraki, H., and Galavi, M. 2012. Evaluation of Fe, B and Zn spraying on safflower quantitative and qualitative traits. Journal of Agroecology 4(3): 201-206. (In Persian with English Summary)

Karami, A., Ghanadha, M., Naghavi, M.R., and Mardi, M. 2004. The evaluation of resistance to drought in barley. Journal of Agricultural Science 1(3):547-560.

Karim, R., Zhang, Y.Q., Zhao, R.R., Chen, X.P., Zhang, F.S., and Zou, C.Q. 2012. Alleviation of drought stress in winter wheat by late foliar application of zinc, boron, and manganese. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science 175(1): 142–151.

Kasraei, R. 1993. Summary of Plant Nutrition Science. Tabriz University Press, Tabriz, Iran. 120 pp. (In Persian)

Keatinge, J.D.H., and Cooper, P.J.M. 1984. Physiological and moisture use studies on growth and development of winter sown chickpea. In Saxena: M.C. and Singh, K.B. (eds). Ascochyta blight and winter sowing of chickpeas. World crops: production, utilization, description pp. 141-177.

Khan, I., Anjum, S.A., Qardi, R.W.K., Ali, M., Chattha, M.U., and Asif, M. 2015. Boosting achene yield and yield related traits of sunflower hybrids through boron application strategies. American Journal of Plant Sciences 6: 1752-1759.

Khiavi, M., Khorshidi, M.B., Ismaeili, M., Azarabadi, S., Faramarzi, A., and Emaratpardaz, J. 2011. Effect of foliar application of boron and zinc on yield and some qualitative characteristics of two rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) cultivars. Jornal of Water and Soil Science 1(3): 31-45. (In Persian with English Summary)

Kiran, S.P., Paramesh, R., Nishanth, G.K., Channakeshava, B.C., and Niriranjana-Kumara, B. 2014. Influence of seed pelleting on crop growth and seed yield in sunflower hybrid seed production of KBSH-53 (Helianthus annus L.). International Journal of Advances in Pharmacy, Bilogy and Chemistry 3(2): 391-394.

Lewis, D.C., and McFarlane, J.D. 1986. Effect of foliar applied manganese on the growth of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) and the diagnosis of manganese deficiency by plant tissue and seed analysis. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 37: 567-572.

Mandal, B., Hazra, G.C., and Mandal, L.N. 2000. Soil management influence on zinc dsorptions for rice and maize nutrition. Soil Science Society of America Journal 64(5): 1699-1705.

Marschner, H. 1995. Functions of mineral nutrients: macronutrients. Mineral nutrition of higher plants 2nd Edition. Academic Press, New York. P. 299-312.

Mekki, B.B., El-Kholy, M.A., and Mohamed, E.M. 1999. Yield, oil and fatty acid contents as affected by water deficit and potassium fertilization in two sunflower cultivars Egypt. Journal of Argonomy 21: 67-85.

Misagh, M., Movahedi-Dehnavi, M., Yadavi, A.R., and Khadem-Hamze, H.R. 2016. Improvement of yield, oil and protein percentage of sesame under drought stress by foliar application of zinc and boron. Electronic Journal of Crop Production 9(1): 163-180. (In Persian with English Summary)

Mohsennia, O., and Jalilian, J. 2012. Effects of drought stress and ertilizer sources on yield and yield components of safflower (Crathamus tinctorius L.). Journal of Agroecology 4(3): 235-245. (In Persian with English Summary)

Moradi-Telavat, M.R., and Siadat, S.A. 2013. Introdauction to Oilseed Plants Production. Agricultural Extension and Education Publications. Pp. 375.

Moradi-Telavat, M.R., Roshan, F., and Siadat, S.A. 2015. Effect of foliar application of zinc sulfate on minerals contenet, seed and oil yields of two safflower cultivars (Carthamus tinctorius L.). Iranian Journal of Crop Sciences 17(2): 153-164. (In Persian with English Summary)

Movahedi- Dehnacvi, M., and Modares-Sanavi, A.M. 2007. Effect of Zn and Mn micro nutrients foliar application on yield and yield components of three winter safflower under drought stress in Isfahan. Journal of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources 13(2): 1-11. (In Persian with English Summary)

Nam, N.H., Chauhan, Y.S., and Johansen, C. 1993. Comparison of extra-short-duration pigeonpea with short-season legumes under rainfed conditions on alfisols. Experimental Agriculture 29: 307-316.

Nuttall, W.F., Ukrainetz, H., Stewart, J.W.B., and Spurr, D.T. 1987. The effect of nitrogen, sulfur and boron on yield and quality of rapeseed (Brassica napus L. and Brassica campestris L.). Canadian Journal of Soil Science 67: 545-559.

Porter, P.M. 1993. Canola response to boron and nitrogen grown on the southeastern Coastal plain. Journal of Plant Nutrition 16(12): 2371- 2381.

Pratima, S., Sharma, C., Chatterjee, C., and Sinha, P. 1999. Seed quality of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) as influenced by boron nutrition. Indian Journal of Agricultural Science 1: 14-17.

Purdad, S.S. 2007. Safflower. Center of Mehr Publication, Iran 123 pp. (In Persian)

Ramesh, S., Raghbir, S., Mohinder, S., Sharam, R., Singh, R., and Singh, M. 1999. Effect of P, Fe on the yield of sunflower. Annals Agricultural Research 4: 445-450.

Ravi, S., Channal, H.T., Hebsur, N.S., Patil, B.N., and Dharmatti, P.R. 2008. Effect of sulphur, zinc and iron nutrition on growth, yield, nutrient uptake and quality of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.). Karnataka Journal of Agricultural Sciences 32: 382-385.

Roshan, F., Moradi-Telavat, M.R., and Siadat, S.A. 2016. Effects of foliar application of zinc sulfate on minerals contenent, seed and oil yields of two safflower cultivars (Carthamus tinctorius L.). Iranian Journal of Crop Sciences 17(4): 1063-1074. (In Persian with English Summary)

Saeed, U., Sher, A., Hussain, S., Khan, A., Ameen, A., jincai, L., and Shakoor, A. 2015. Impact of foliar application of boron on growth and yield of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under different irrigation conditions. Academia Journal of Agricultural Research 3(9): 219-225.

Salardini, A.A. 2007. Soil Fertility. University of Tehran Press, Tehran, Iran. 432 p. (In Persian)

Sangale, P.B., Palit, G.D., and Daftardar, S.Y. 1981. Effect foliar application of zinc, iron and boron on yield of safflower. Journal of Maharashtra Agriculture University 6: 65-66.

Sarawgi, S.K., and Rajput, R.S. 2005. Effect of phosphorus, zinc and PSM on growth and yield of soybean in vertisols of Chhattisgarh plain. Annual Agricultural Research 26 (2): 302–305.

Selote, D.S., and Khana-Chopra, R. 2004. Drought-induced spikelet sterility is associated with an inefficient antioxidant defence in rice plants. Physiologia Plantarum 121: 462-467.

Seyedsharifi, R. 2016. Application of biofertilizers and zinc increases yield, nodulation and unsaturated fatty acids of soybean. Zemdirbyste-Agriculture 103(3): 251-258.

Shirani-Rad, A.H. 2003. Crop Physiology. Artistic and Cultural Institute Dibagaran Tehran, Tehran, Iran. 360 p. (In Persian)

Shorrocks, V.M. 1997. The occurrence and correction of boron deficiency. Plant and Soil 193: 121–148.

Shrestha, R., Turner, N.C.M., Siddique, K.H., Turner, D.W., and Speijers, J. 2006. A water deficit during pod development in lentils reduces flower and pod number but not pod size. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 57(4): 427-438.

Singh, R., Sharma, R.K., and Singh, M. 1996. Effect of P, Zn, Fe, CaCO3, and farmyard manure application on yield and quality of sunflower. Annals of Biology Ludhiana 12: 203-208.

Verma, C.K., Prasad, K., and Yadav, D. 2012. Studies on response of sulphur, zinc and boron levels on yield, economics and nutrients uptake of mustard (Brassica napus (L.) Czernj & Cosson). Crop Research 44(1-2): 75-78.

Yari, P., Keshtkar, A.H., and Sepehri, A. 2015. Evaluation of water stress effect on growth and yield of spring safflower. Plant Production Technology 14(2): 101-117. (In Persian with English Summary)