ENRICHMENT OF WHEAT BY ZINC FERTILIZER, MYCORRHIZA AND PREHARVEST DROUGHT STRESS

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of Zn and mycorrhiza on enrichment possibility of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under preharvest drought stress condition. The treatments included irrigation (A1: normal irrigation, A2: preharvest drought stress) as the main plots and the combinations of zinc (Zn1: 0 kg ha-1 and Zn2: 2 kg ha-1 ) and mycorrhiza (Mc1: 0 kg ha-1 and Mc2: 200 kg ha-1 ) as the subplots. The results indicated that grain phosphorus, grain phytic acid, phytic acid to zinc ratio, grain yield and grain filling period decreased under drought stress condition. A significant reduction was observed in grain phosphorus, grain phytic acid, phytic acid (Phy) to zinc ratio and grain filling rate with application of Zn (2 kg ha-1 ). Grain zinc, protein, yield and final grain weight were higher at 200 kg ha-1 mycorrhiza than the control (0 kg ha-1 ). Finally, considering drought crisis in some developing countries, the treatment of preharvest drought stress with Zn (2 kg ha-1 ) saved 450 m3ha-1 of water, produced the second highest grain yield, the highest protein content and the lowest phytic acid and Phy/Zn ratio. Therefore, this treatment can be recommended as a suitable and practical approach to improve wheat grain yield and quality