Effect of deficit irrigation and zeolite levels on phenology, oil yield and water use efficiency of hemp

To study the effect of deficit irrigation and zeolite application on water use efficiency, oil yield and phenology of hemp, a split plot experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications in Shahrekord University. Treatments included irrigation at four levels (supplying 40, 60, 80 and 100% water requirement of crop) as the main plot and application of zeolite at three levels (no application, application of 5 and 10 tons of zeolite per hectare) as sub plot.
The results showed that the length of the reproductive period was affected by irrigation and zeolite treatments and their interactions. By decreasing irrigation water supply, the length of the growth period decreased, although the reproductive stages were more sensitive than the vegetative stages. With increasing defficit irrigation intensity, oil yield, as a function of grain yield and oil content, decreased significantly. But, zeolite application prevented the oil yields to be reduced to some extent. Zeolite improved the water consumption per unit of yield on low and medium levels of drought stress with 19.9% and 17.5% than control treatment. Application of 10 tons of zeolite per hectare, at 60 and 80 percent supplying of the crop water requirement, modified the adverse effects of drought stress to hemp.