The effect of various micronutrient foliar applications and irrigation regimes on quantitative and qualitative yields of isabgol (Plantago ovata Forsk.)

The responses of isabgol (Plantago ovata Forsk.) to micronutrient foliar application under low irrigation condition were investigated. The experiment was carried out in Agricultural Research Farm of Zabol University, Iran, during growing season of 2007-2008. The experiment was conducted in spilt plot using randomized complete block design with four replications. Three irrigation regimes defined as normal irrigation, one time lack of irrigation before flowering and one time lack of irrigation after flowering were used as the main plots. Five levels of micronutrient foliar application including: control unit, four ppt of Fe, three ppt of Zn, four ppt of Mn, and a mixture of these elements were considered as subplots. The results indicated that the seed and biological yield, seed number per spike, spike number per plant and thousand seed weight were significantly affected by irrigation regimes. The maximum seed yield obtained in control plots with normal irrigation. The seed yield diminish in treatments of one time lack of irrigation before flowering and one time lack of irrigation after flowering was 14.9 and 20.1 percentage, respectively. The seed and biological yield, mucilage yield, seed number per spike and thousand seed weight were significantly affected by micronutrient foliar application. The maximum seed yield was observed in Zn treatment with 22.12% yield more than control. The maximum mucilage yield and percent were found in the treatment of one time lack of irrigation before flowering and the maximum turgid index in treatment of one time lack of irrigation after flowering. The micronutrient foliar application showed positive effect on seed, biological, and mucilage yields. The maximum seed yield was obtained in normal irrigation with micronutrient foliar application.