Investigation of Electrical Conductivity and Seedling Growth of Red Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Seed Grown under Drought Stress and Foliar Application of Zinc and Manganese

In order to evaluate the electrical conductivity and seedling growth characteristics of red bean seed grown under drought stress and foliar application of zinc and manganese, a split factorial experiment was conducted in a Randomized Complete Block Design in field and also laboratory experiment at Shahrekord University in 2011. Factors inclouded three levels of drought stress (irrigation after 50, 70 and 90 mm evaporation from class A pan) as the main plot and three levels of zinc foliar application (with water, 100 and 200 grams per hectare zinc), and three levels of manganese foliar application (with water, 150 and 300 grams per hectare manganese) in a factorial combination as sub plot. The results showed that severe drought stress led to decrease of electrical conductivity while the seedling and root length of red bean seed were increased. In the measured characteristics, Mn foliar application had significant effect on electrical conductivity and root dry weight. In different Mn foliar application treatments, the lowest electrical conductivity was related to control while the maximum seedling dry weight was observed at 150 g Mn foliar application per hectare. Zn foliar application had significant effect on all the traits measured during this experiment. Based on means comparison, the highest seedling dry weight, shoot, seedling and root length as well as the lowest electrical conductivity was belong to the 100 g Zn foliar application per hectare. The highest root dry weight was obtained for 200 g Zn per hectare which no significant difference was observed with 100 g Zn per hectare. According to the results of this experiment, mild stress and foliar application of zinc and manganese led to increase the quality of the produced seeds. In total, foliar application of zinc and manganese (at the amount of 100 and 300 g ha-1 respectively) with mild stress (irrigation after 70 mm evaporation from class A pan) are recommended for production of seeds with high vigor under this region conditions.