Effect of foliar fertilization with zinc and manganese sulfate on yield, dry matter accumulation, and zinc and manganese contents in leaf and seed of chickpea (Cicer arietinum)

ABSTRACT

To investigate the effects of zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) foliar fertilization on yield, dry matter accumulation,Zn and Mn concentrations in leaf and seed of chickpea cultivars, a field experiment was conducted in 2014. Theexperimental design was a split plot in randomized complete block with three replications. The phenological stagesrecorded were as follows Emergence, flowering, 50% flowering, and harvest maturity. At harvest, economic yieldand its components, biological yield, harvest index, stem, leaf, pod, seed, and total dry weight were measured. TheZn and Mn contents were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The results indicated that the spraying ofZn and Mn elements did not have a significant effect on the time from emergence to 50% flowering and the timefrom emergence to maturation. Spraying treatments had a significant effect on dry weight of stems, leaves, pods,seeds, and total plant. In all three cultivars, Zn spraying had the greatest effect on the plant height, number of pods perplant, number of seeds per plant, 100-seed weight, grain yield, biological yield, and dry weight of leaves, seeds, andtotal plant, while Mn spraying had the greatest effect on the increase in stem and pod dry weight and protein content.