Effect of salicylic Acid on some of Physiological Characteristics and Related Traits with Grain and Yield of Corn (SC. 704) in Different Irrigation Condition

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of irrigation treatments at different growth stages and foliar spray of salicylic acid on growth and yield of corn (CV SC704). The field experiment was carried out as split split plots arranged in randomized complete blocks design with three replications in 2014. Water stress at all growth stages significantly reduced seed yield. Irrigating after 110 mm at kernel filling stage had no effect on grain yield, but further water stress reduced 25.6 % of seed yield. Similar decrease was obtained with water stress at tassel emergence stage. Grain yield reduced up to 23.3 and 29.7% with irrigation after 110 and 150 mm at tassel emergence stage, respectively. The highest decline of grain yield was achieved with water stress at vegetative stage and irrigation after 150 mm which decreased grain yield up to 53.9%. Foliar spray of salicylic acid increased 17.7% in grain yield. Among the yield components, 100-grain weight was not affected by water stress, but grains per ear showed significant reduction by water stress. In this study, leaf area and chlorophyll contents were important reducer factors in corn yield and yield components under water stress but salicylic acid consumption with a positive impact on these traits reduced drought stress losses.