Effect of biofertilizer and boron foliar spray on mungbean yield under drought stress

A completely randomized split-plot design with three replications was conducted in agricultural and natural resources research center of Khorasan Razavi to evaluate the yield response of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) toboron foliar spray and seed inoculation under drought stress. The drought treatments (Irrigation at all growth stages, no irrigation from establishment to flowering, and no irrigation after flowering to harvest) was considered as main plot.Foliar spray (with and without boron) and seed inoculation (Nitroxin and Nitragin) were laid out in subplot. Grain and biological yield, 1000-grain weight, number of seed per pot and leaf Prolin content were measured. Results showed that drought stress decreased grain and biological yield, 1000-grain weight, number of seed per pot and leaf Prolin content significantly at both growth stages. The effects of seed inoculation and boron foliar spray on evaluated factors were not statistically significant. Interactive effect of drought stress and boron foliar spray was significant for all factors except 1000-grain weight factor. Interactive effect of seed inoculation and boron foliar spray on grain yield and leaf prolin content was significant. Interactive effect of seed inoculation, drought stress and boron foliar spray on grain yield and biological yield was significant. In general, results showed that irrigation at reproductive stage was essential because of high need to photosyntitic metabolites. Seed inoculation and boron foliar spray did not mitigate adverse effects of drought stress. So overall, it can be said that in arid and semi-arid regions irrigation is necessary in all growth stages in particular reproductive stage.