Determining the suitable irrigation period of Acer monspessulanum sapling in Dareh-Shahr nursery- Ilam

Acer monspessulanum is one of the valuable species in the Zagros forests. One of the major problems is the nursery is the amount and frequency of irrigation.Traditionally, Acer seedlings are irrigated on a daily basis, however, so far, there has not been any scientific account specifying the exact amount of water needed for the irrigation of this specific species. Considering the importance of water as an essential factor for plant growth, especially in the early stages of growth and its impact on qualitative and quantitative characteristics of seedlings in nursery production, irrigation and its frequency and rate must be investigated in the nursery scientifically in order for seedlings to be grown with higher quality and chances for establishment in nature. In this study, some morphological features of Acer monspessulanum were investigated under different irrigation treatments 2, 4, 6, 9 and 11 days once in a temporary nursery (three hectares) in Dareh-Shahr city in the northeastern of Ilam province. Each treatment consisted of 30 pots (30 seedlings) and each treatment has three replicates. The results of this study indicates that there is a significant difference with regard to the morphologic particulars (Leaf area, leaf fresh weight, leaf dry weight, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, shoot length growth, collar diameter, length and number of branches branch) between attendance of different Irrigation period and 4 days Irrigation period showed the highest mean value of morphologic particulars. This result can be considered as a highly significant one as far as the saving water in our Country and other dry or semi – dry countries. The entire sapling in 11 day Irrigation Period was dead. Percent survival and quality index of seedlings after planting seedlings in the field had highest value in In 4 days once irrigation.