Abstract:
In hot and arid regions,
drought stress is considered as one of the
main reasons for yield reduction. To study
the effect of drought stress, nitrogen and
zinc spray on the yield and yield
components of corn, an experiment was
carried out during the crop seasons of 2010
and 2011 on Emam Khomeyni research
Farm in Mahvellat as a split factorial within
randomized complete block design with
three replicates. The main plots with
irrigation factor and three levels were
considered: full irrigation, stopping
irrigation at anthesis step and stopping
irrigation at the seed filling stage. Subplots
were considered with and without nitrogen
and zinc spray. The drought stress reduced
the grain yield in anthesis stage more than
other stages. Drought stress effects
significantly on stem and ear diameter, ear
length, chlorophyll value, leaf area index,
leaf relative water content, stem, ear and
leaves dry weight, number grain in ear and
row, number row in ear, unfilled seed
percentage and thousand grains weight.
Nitrogen increased the seed yield and yield
component except thousand grains weight
and the number of row in ear. Using Zn, as
compared with control treatment, causes the
increase of grain yield, thousand grains
weight and number grain in ear 16.5, 9 and
5.5%, respectively. The results obtained
from the present research showed that
anthesis stage was most sensitive stage to
drought stress. Also nitrogen and Zn could
somewhat reduce the impact drought stress
on corn.
