Investigation Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Sorghum (<i>Sorghum bicolor</i> L., var. Kimia) Affected Zeolite Consumption under Water Deficit Situation

Abstract

Current study was carried out to assessment the effects of zeolite on seed yield, physiological and biochemical traits of sorghum in response to different irrigation regime according split plot arrangement based on complete randomized block design with three replications in Varamin region (Central of Iran). The main plots consisted of different irrigation regime at four levels [Normal irrigation (I₁), cut irrigation in vegetation stage (I₂), cut irrigation in flowering stage (I₃), cut irrigation in grain filling stage (I₄)]. Zeolite in three levels [nonuse zeolite or control (Z₁), 6 t.ha^-1 (Z₂) and 12 t.ha^-1 zeolite (Z₃)] belonged to subplots. Results of analysis of variance indicated that the interaction effects of different irrigation regime and zeolite application on all measured traits were significant at 1% probability level. According result of mean comparison of interaction effect of treatments the maximum of seed yield (4270.333 kg.ha^-1) was obtained for normal irrigation with use 12 t.ha^-1 zeolite and minimum of that (1601.000 kg.ha^-1) was for cut irrigation in grain filling stage with nonuse zeolite. Proline content increased as the amount of water deficiency and has a direct relationship with extinction coefficient, so the highest proline content and extinction coefficient were assigned of cut irrigation in vegetative stage with nonuse zeolite treatment. The maximum amount of HCN and Tannin (346.70 mgr.gr^-1, 48.867 mg.gr^-1) were achieved at cut irrigation in grain filling stage with nonuse zeolite. According to the obtained results it seems that assimilate has an effective role in the production of total biomass and seed yield in the period before and after flowering. The zeolite application 6 t.ha^-1 could be achieved acceptable LAI better than other treatments.