Advances in Environmental Biology

Advances in Environmental Biology, 8(4) March 2014, Pages: 890-893
AENSI Journals
Advances in Environmental Biology
ISSN-1995-0756
EISSN-1998-1066
Journal home page: http://www.aensiweb.com/aeb.html
The Effect of Potassium and Zinc Sulfate Application on Grain Yield of Maize
Under Drought Stress Conditions
1
Abbas Maleki, 2Shohreh Fazel, 3Rahim Naseri, 4Kolsoum Rezaei and 1Mohammad Heydari
1
Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Branch of Ilam, Ilam, Iran.
Former M.Sc. student of Agronomy, Islamic Azad University, Branch of Borujerd, Iran.
Young Researchers and Elite Club, Ilam Branch, Islamic Azad University Ilam, Iran.
4
Ph.D. student in Crop Physiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran.
2
3
ARTICLE INFO
Article history:
Received 15January 2014
Received in revised form 15
April 2014
Accepted 22 April 2014
Available online 5 May 2014
Key words:
Maize, Drought stress, Potassium,
Zinc sulfate.
ABSTRACT
In order to evaluate the effect of potassium and zinc sulfate application on grain yield of
maize (cv. KSC 704) under drought stress, an experiment was conducted as split
factorial in randomized complete block design with three replications in Ilam, Iran
during 2010-2011 growing season. Experimental factors consisted of irrigation (full
irrigation, stop irrigation in flowering stage and stop irrigation in grain filling stage)
were assigned as main plot, and potassium (0, 75 and 150 kg.ha-1) and for zinc (0, 30
and 60 kg.ha-1) were chosen as sub plot. The results showed that the irrigation affected
most of characters. The highest grain yield was obtained from in full irrigation
treatment. Potassium fertilizer had positive affect all studied traits except number of
grain rows in ear. The Highest gain yield belonged to 75 kg.ha-1. 60 kg.ha-1 zinc sulfate
had the grain yield. The study showed that potassium and zinc sulfate can reduce
negative effects of drought stress on grain yield and its components.
© 2014 AENSI Publisher All rights reserved.
To Cite This Article: Abbas Maleki, Shohreh Fazel, Rahim Naseri, Kolsoum Rezaei and Mohammad Heydari., The Effect of Potassium
and Zinc Sulfate Application on Grain Yield of Maize Under Drought Stress Conditions. Adv. Environ. Biol., 8(4), 890-893, 2014
INTRODUCTION
After wheat, world's largest acreage of farm land allocated to the maize and it is the third crop after wheat
and rice [7]. Drought stress reduces grain yield of maize in dry lands. In most cases, fertilizer recommendations
are madewithout regard to plants and plant nutrition. One of the main reasons for more attention to
micronutrients, except their role in increasing productivity, is the role of potassium fertilizer in drought
resistance [11] and raises the quality of agricultural products by using zinc sulfate [16]. Silspoor et al [18]
showed, drought stress in ear production and peak flowering has the most negative effect on grain yield.
Majidian et al [10] showed that drought stress reduces grain number and 100 grain weight of maize. Cakmak [4,
5] showed that, drought stress reduces dry weight, harvest index and root dry weight. Potassium fertilizer
reduces the effects of drought stress and increases water use efficiency [3]. Researchers indicated in their
studied that application of potassium fertilizer result in increasing in grain yield under drought stress condition
[1-6]. Zinc sulfate increased dry weight of maize [13, 14]. Drought stress has the most negative effect on grain
yield at reproductive stage [2, 8]. Zinc sulfate and potassium fertilizer can be used as reducers of drought stress
effects in farm management [12]. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of potassium and zinc sulfate
on maize under drought stress in western Iran.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
In order to evaluate the effects of potassium and zinc application on grain yield and yield component of
maize (cv. KSC 704) under drought stress condition, an experiment was conducted as split factorial in
randomized complete block design with three replications at Agriculture Research Station (longitude 46 and 7°
of north, latitude 33 and 7° of east with height of 155 m above sea level) of Ilam, Iran during 2010-2011
growing season. Experimental factors consisted of full irrigation, stop irrigation in flowering stage and stop
irrigation in grain filling stage as main plots, and potassium in the levels of 0, 75 and 150 kg.ha-1 and for zinc
fertilizer in the levels of 0, 30 and 60 kg.ha-1 as sub plots. The soil type in 2010-2011 is shown in Table 1.
Corresponding Author: Abbas Maleki, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Islamic
Azad University, Branch of Ilam, Ilam, Iran.
E-mail: [email protected],
Tel: +989188426034
891
Abbas Maleki et al, 2014
Advances in Environmental Biology, 8(4) March 2014, Pages: 890-893
Table 1: Soil physical and chemical properties of experimental area.
Soil texture
Soil depth (cm)
Organic Carbon
pH
(%)
clay loam
30-60
0.9
7.4
Zn
)mg.kg-1(
0.33
E.C
(dS/m)
0.28
P
K
N
)ppm(
)ppm(
)%(
6.8
210
0.11
Nitrogen fertilizer was used from urea source; triple was used from super phosphate from triple super
phosphate source and potassium from potassium sulfate source. Nitrogen fertilizer was given to plant in four
stages. So that a quarter of the nitrogen fertilizer was given to soil as a base, and it was mixed by disc with soil.
The remaining one-fourth was used in growth stage (8-6 leaf stage), one- fourth in a time of flowering and a
quarter in the stationary phase, milky and dough stage. The sowing date was June 15th, 2011. After emergence
and establishment of plants in 10-15 cm height stage, thinning was done to maintain a stronger plant and
desirable density. N and P fertilizer used based on soil test and plants need and phosphorous fertilizer also used
based on soil test.Applied water was measured in each experiment. Each plot consisted of 6-4-m long rows
spaced 75 cm apart. Weeds were removed by hand. Grain yield was harvested in December 5 th. Four middle
were used for sampling, and the two outside rows were considered as border rows. Then, Plant height, number
of kernel rows per ear, number of grain per ear, 1000-grain weight, grain yield, biological and harvest index
were calculated. Statically analysis was conducted using MSTAT-c software. Mean comparison was also
conducted with Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT).
RESULTS AND DISSCUSSION
Plant height:
The results of this experiment showed a significant effect of drought stress on maize plant height (Table 2)
as control plant was highest than the other drought stress treatments. Drought stress reduced plant height by
stunting inter nod and reduce the number of nods [15]. Effect of potassium fertilizer on yield was significant at
the one percent level (Table 2). The highest plant height belonged to 75 kg.ha-1 of potassium (2.19 m) (Table 3).
Potassium reduces negative effects of drought stress on plant height [15]. In the present study, a positive
correlation between plant height and grain yield seen (Table 4). Potassium causes cell growth in drought stress
condition by keeping the water potential of the cells at absorbs level [5].
Number of kernel rows per ear:
Stress caused a significant reduction in the number of kernel rows per ear of maize. (Table 2). The highest
number shown in control treatment (14.5 rows per ear), which it was 29% more than drought stress treatments.
Reducing the number of rows of grain per ear maize is one of the main causes of yield decline. Flowering stage
is most sensitive to drought stress. Drought stress reduced the number of kernel rows per ear in single cross 704
maize.
Table 2: Analysis of variance of potassium and zinc application on yield and yield Components of maize under drought stresses.
MS
S.O.V
d.f
Plant
Grain row
Grain no.
1000-grain
Grain yield
Biological
Harvest
height
No. per Ear
per ear
weight
yield
index
Replication
2
0.022ns
0.35ns
1808.95*
89.67ns
14013.2ns
1852623ns
0.00380ns
Irrigation
2
0.196**
19.01 *
27765.3*
66993.14**
7786054.1*
637491512*
0.35898**
(I)
E (a)
4
0.016
2.72
3808.7
298.20
608139.1
15860725
0.01387
Potassium
2
0.089**
1.38ns
15672.7*
8534.20**
6359998.8**
2986883ns
0.0084*
(P)
Zinc (Z)
2
0.011ns
0.94ns
16163.3*
1867.54**
9051172.1**
9658179*
0.0095*
I*k
4
0.013ns
1.31ns
7876.8ns
286.72ns
1461222.9*
3894290ns
0.00380ns
I*Zn
4
0.011ns
3.31ns
2948.9ns
101.27ns
551376.3ns
8204475*
0.00144ns
k*Zn
4
0.009ns
0.57ns
2617.8ns
270.54ns
708367.6ns
6616512ns
0.00347ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
ns
I*k*Zn
8
0.006
2.05
9096.6
208.07
345753.6
2164545
0.00175ns
E(b)
48
0.0062
1.9259259
4710.9
119.19
525619.7
2769483
0.00251
C.V (%)
3.70
10.71
11.27
4.48
8.85
9.14
10.51
ns, * and **: Non – significant at 5% and 1% probability levels, respectively
Table 3: Comparison of potassium and zinc application on grain yield and yield components of maize under drought stresses.
Levels
Plant height
Grain row no.
Ear length
Grain No.
Ear H.
(m)
(cm)
Per Earl
(cm)
Irrigation
Potassium (kg.ha-1)
Zinc ( kg.ha-1 )
Control
Flowering
Grain filling
0
75
150
0
30
60
2.19a
2.14b
2.04c
2.07c
2.19a
2.11b
2.14a
2.12a
2.1a
14.5a
13.07ab
11.2b
12.3b
13.44a
13.1a
12.77a
12.92a
2.61a
23.1a
21.9b
20.9c
20.8b
22.09ab
23.2a
21.4b
22.04ab
22.5a
627.7a
627.1
574.8b
577.9c
644a
604.7b
588.7c
608.3ab
629.5a
85.2a
91.2a
83.3a
82.8b
86.9ab
90.5a
85.6a
86.8a
87.9a
1000grain
weight (g)
291.7a
246.8b
192.3c
243.8b
261.3a
243.8b
234.9c
241.5a
244.4b
Grain
yield
(kg.ha-1)
9402.01a
8215.6b
6979.5c
7913.7b
8522a
8161.3ab
7841b
8264.1ab
8491.9a
Means, in each column, followed by similar letter are not significantly different at the 5% probability level- using Duncans Multiple Range Test .
Biological
yield
(kg.ha-1)
23333a
17565b
13676c
18277a
18472a
17824a
17464b
18766a
18342ab
Harvest
index
(%)
0.59 a
0.51b
0.47c
0.45c
0.47b
0.49a
0.44c
0.47b
0.49a
892
Abbas Maleki et al, 2014
Advances in Environmental Biology, 8(4) March 2014, Pages: 890-893
Number of grain per ear:
The results showed that the effect of drought stress on grain number per ear of maize was significant (Table
2). The highest amount shown in full irrigation (627.7 grain) which is 14% more than stress condition (Table 3).
Momeni [13] and Majidian et al [10] showed, drought stress reduces number of grain per ear in drought stress.
Effect of potassium on grain number per ear was significant too (Table 3). Potassium in amount of 75 kg.ha -1
and zinc in amount of 60 kg.ha-1 have the most effect on grain weight (Table 3). Potassium and zinc deficient is
the main reason to reduce number of grain per ear in maize. In this study there was a positive and significant
correlation between fertilizer and grain yield (Table 4).
1000-grain weight:
The results showed that the effect of drought stress and potassium and zinc on 1000-grain weight was
significant (Table 2). The highest amount of this trait seen in control irrigation and using potassium and zinc in
amount of 75 and 60 kg.ha-1, respectively (Table 3). The most important factor that reduces grain weight is short
grain feeling period. Water stress reduce assimilate supply and grain yield, grain weight per ear and grain weight
[5]. Momeni [13] shown reduction thousand grain weight in drought stress condition and increasing this trait
showed when zinc sulfate used by Movahedi [14].
Grain yield:
Results showed the highest grain yield in full irrigation (9402.7 kg.ha-1) which is 34% more than drought
stress treatment (Table 3). Drought stress reduces photosynthesis and grain yield [9]. Momeni [13] showed grain
yield reduction in drought stress condition. At grain feeling stage, drought stress reduces assimilation supplying
and reduce grain yield. Results showed potassium and zinc using have significant effects on grain yield (Table
3). The highest grain yield showed when potassium and zinc supplied in 75 and 60 kg.ha-1 (Table 3). At least
highest grain yield (8546 kg.ha-1) shown in control irrigation and using 75 kg.ha-1 potassium and 60 kg.ha-1 zinc.
Thousand grain weight had the highest correlation with grain yield (r=0.74) (Table 4).
Biologic yield:
The results showed that, stop irrigation at flowering stage had the greatest damage on the biological yield
(Table 3). Drought stress reduced plant growth, so biological yield. The most important effect of drought stress
is on leaves which the sources are of assimilates [15]. Results showed that irrigation and zinc had a significant
effect on biological yield (Table 2). The highest biological yield gained in 30 kg.ha-1 zing supplying (Table 3).
Movahedi [14] showed that biological yield increases by using zinc sulfate. Highest biological yield showed in
irrigation and using 60 kg.ha-1 zinc (24306 kg.ha-1). Biological yield had a positive and significant correlation
with grain yield, it tells that biological yield can be a reliable background to increasing grain yield [8-16].
Harvest index:
Results showed that drought stress affected the harvest index significantly (Table 2). Highest harvest index
showed in control irrigation (0.59) which is 25% more than drought stress conditions (Table 3). Nejat et al [16]
showed that drought stress can reduce harvest index near 42% in maize. Either, potassium and zinc were
significantly effective on harvest index value (Table 2). Movahedi [14] showed significant and positive effect
of zinc sulfate on harvest index which is same as Lesson [8]. Significant and positive correlation between
harvest index and thousand grain weight and grain yield shown in this study (Table 4).
Table 4: Correlation coefficient between studied traits.
Plant
Ear h.
Ear
height
length
Stem
diameter
Flag
leaf
area
Plant height
0.11ns
Ear H.
0.21ns
-0.13ns
Stem diameter
-0.09ns
-0.17ns
0.17ns
Flag leaf Area
-0.31**
-0.24*
-0.27*
0.27*
ns
ns
Ear dry weight
0.17
-0.03
0.47**
-0.04ns
-0.33**
ns
ns
ns
Grain row no.
0.00
-0.06
-0.12
0.02ns
0.22*
Ear diameter
0.04ns
-0.08ns
0.04ns
0.06ns
0.10ns
Ear Res. dry
0.25*
0.03ns
0.46**
0.06ns
-0.31**
weight
Grain No. per earl
0.25*
-0.07ns
0.28*
-0.00ns
-0.09ns
1000 Grain
0.40**
0.12ns
0.48**
-0.01ns
-0.36**
Weight
Grain Yield
0.3**
0.13ns
0.442**
0.02ns
-0.40**
Bio. Yield
0.26*
0.14ns
0.56**
-0.006ns
-0.36**
Harvest index
-0.28*
-0.16ns
-0.50**
-0.01ns
0.33**
ns, * and **: Non – significant at 5% and 1% probability levels, respectively.
Ear dry
weight
Grain
row no.
Ear
diameter
Ear res.
dry
weight
Grain
no. per
earl
-0.28*
-0.06ns
0.78**
0.11ns
-0.30**
-0.12ns
0.15ns
0.62**
0.64**
-0.25*
0.07ns
-0.07ns
0.09ns
0.66**
0.22*
0.59**
0.70**
-0.63**
-0.30**
-0.31**
0.24ns
-0.26*
-0.05ns
0.03ns
0.74**
0.72**
-0.65**
0.11ns
0.22*
-0.24*
1000grain
weight
0.74**
0.79**
0.76**
Grain
yield
Bio.
yield
0.65**
0.56**
0.96**
Conclusion:
Results indicate that, irrigation and ability of zinc and potassium, increases maize yield and these two
fertilizers can reduce effect of drought stress in stress situations. Highest yield showed in control irrigation
(9402.01 kg.ha-1), using 75 kg.ha-1 potassium (8522 kg.ha-1) and using 60 kg.ha-1 zinc (8491.9) but in all stress
893
Abbas Maleki et al, 2014
Advances in Environmental Biology, 8(4) March 2014, Pages: 890-893
situations, highest yield showed in case of use 150 and 60 kg.ha -1, potassium and zinc, respectively. Results
indicate that, zinc and potassium can reduce drought stress.
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