نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
نویسندگان
1 استادیار، گروه کشاورزی، دانشگاه پیام نور، تهران، ایران
2 دانشیار، گروه ژنتیک و تولید گیاهی، دانشکده کشاورزی، دانشگاه ولیعصر رفسنجان، رفسنجان، ایران
چکیده
کلیدواژهها
موضوعات
عنوان مقاله [English]
نویسندگان [English]
Introduction
Salinity predominates in arid and semi-arid regions and causes a significant threat to food security and this soil salinity is mainly caused by the low rainfall, overuse of fertilizers, irrigation of underground brackish water, industrial effluents and deforestation and agriculture on these soils has always remained a challenge due to the multidimensional impacts of salinity on soils and plants. Silicon (Si), the 2nd most abundant mineral element in the earth's crust, mitigates salinity by improving the plant's adaptive mechanism against biotic and abiotic stresses. Nanoparticles of different materials ranging from 1 to 100 nm have been extensively used to sustain agriculture, recently. In this regard, the application of stress modulators such as nano silicon has been found to enhance plant growth and grain yield while also increasing its resistance to abiotic stresses. Maize (Zea mays L.) contributes one-third of grain production worldwide. Maize is an important staple food, providing superior nutrition to humans and livestock. Moreover, maize is more sensitive to salt stress rather than other abiotic stress of environment. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were to evaluate the effects of nano silicon on agronomic and morphological traits in maize cultivars, to determine effective traits on grain yield and to select the best cultivars for cultivation in saline soils.
Materials and methods
This experiment was carried out as a split plot based on a randomized complete blocks design with three replications in Abarkouh city in Yazd province. The experimental factors were nano silicon treatment including control and nano silicon application treatment as main plot and the eight maize cultivars including KSC670, KSC647, KSC500, KSC705, KSC400, KSC704, KSC604 and KSC700 as sub plot. Two phases of period growth, 8-10 leaves and silk emergence, were used for the foliar application of nano silicon. In each plot, there were five rows with five m long. Distance between planting row and distance between the plants in row were 75 and 20 cm, respectively. Rows per ear, grains per row, grains per ear, ear length and diameter, plant height, 1000 grain weight and grain yield were measured in this study.
Research findings
The results revealed that the nono silicon and cultivar effect were significant in all the studied traits. Nano silicon × cultivar interaction was significant in ear length, plant height and 1000 grain weight. All studied traits in this study were increased by nano silicon application. According to mean comparison results, KSC704 and KSC705 cultivars had the most value of grain yield and its components under both treatments. Grain yield under both treatments had significant positive correlation with rows per ear, grains per row, grains per ear, ear length and diameter. By stepwise regression, rows per ear under control treatment and rows per ear and 1000 grain weight under nano silicon application were entered to the model. The result of path analysis showed that rows per ear trait was the most effective trait on grain yield under both treatments. Studied cultivars using cluster analysis classified into three groups under both treatments.
Conclusion
The results of this research exhibited that rows per ear could be used for achieving to high yield in maize under both treatments. According to cluster analysis, KSC 700, KSC704 and KSC705 cultivars were better cultivars under both treatments for the most traits and so these cultivars could be used for achieving to high yield in maize under both treatments in saline soil.
کلیدواژهها [English]
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