Effect of Foliar Zinc Application on Yield and Yield Components of Soybean Cultivars Under Water Deficit

In order to study the effect of water deficit stress and zinc foliar application on morphological traits، yield and yield components of soybean cultivars، an experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design arrangement in split plat factorial. Main factor was three levels of drought stress (non stress، water stress in vegetative growth stage to %10 flowering and water stress in flowering stage to %10 pod stage) and sub factor was combination of foliar zinc application and cultivar. Foliar zinc application levels (non foliar application، water foliar application and Zinc Sulfate (5000 ppm)) foliar application and cultivars (L17 and Clarck 63) were in three and two levels، respectively. Results showed that traits were affected by treatments. Water deficit stress obviously decreased the yield، yield components، biomass and morphological traits of seed in both cultivars. Variation in morphological traits and yield were more prominent in plots stressed in reproductive stage. Zinc sulfate foliar application increased yield and yield components. Soybean cultivars were different in response to treatments. Clark 63 was more desirable than L17 under water deficit stress. But zinc foliar application in L17 was more effective than clark 63 and increased its yield. In general، foliar application of zinc decreased harmful effects of oxidative stress due to water deficit stress and improved growth conditions for plants.