Simultaneous Effects of Soil Compaction and Moisture on Fe and Mn Uptake by Pistachio (Pistachio vera L.) Seedlings

A greenhouse experiment was carried out to study the uptake of Fe and Mn in pistachio seedlings (Pistachio vera L.) at different densities and moisture levels. This experiment was applied in a sandy loam soil with four levels of bulk density (1.35, 1.5, 1.65 and 1.8 g cm-3) and six moisture levels from saturation to the permanent wilting point in triplicates. After outbreak the roots (90 days) from cylinders, seedlings were harvested and analyzed for their Fe and Mn. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design based nesting. Increasing soil density from 1.5 to 1.8 g/cm3 resulted in almost 30 percent increase in roots Fe concentration and root and shoot Mn concentration. An increase in soil density from 1.35 to 1.8 g cm-3 decreased 74 and 64 percent the shoot iron and manganese contents and decreased 45 and 36 percent root iron and manganese, respectively. Water deficiency at all bulk density levels had a negative impact on shoot Fe concentration , but an increase in Mn concentration was observed in shoot and root at bulk density levels of of 1.35 and 1.5 (g cm-3) with water stress. High soil water content increased Fe and Mn contents in shoot and root at bulk density level of 1.8 (g cm-3) (p