Effects of zinc sulphate on growth and development wheat cultivars in north Fars region

Zinc deficiency through the reduction in auxin production and photosynthesis, reduces growth and grain yield of wheat. An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of zinc sulphate on growth and development of wheat cultivars in Eghlid agriculture research during 2007– 2008. The experiment was conducted in a split plot layout within a randomized complete block design with four replications. The main plot consisted of three levels (0, 30 and 60 kg ha-1) of zinc sulphate (36% Zn) and the sub-plots were Zarin, Alvand and Shahriar wheat cultivars. The result showed that increasing the Zinc sulphate levels caused meaningful increasing in the biomass, leaf biomass, shoot, ear, biomass total in earing, grain yield (GY), total biomass and harvest index (HI). Zarin and Alvand cultivars significantly produced higher leaf biomass, shoot, ear, biomass total in earing, grain yield, total biomass and harvest index (HI) than Shahriar. Increasing Zinc sulphate levels and cultivars didnt have any effect on development stages. In this study the highest growth and grain yield (kgha-1) were 10040 and 10030 kg ha-1 by using the 60 kg ha-1 of zinc sulphate in Alvand and Zarin cultivars respectively. This rate of zinc sulphate application and Alvand and Zarin cultivars might be suitable for wheat production under conditions similar to this study.