Effect of irrigation intervals and foliar application of iron and zinc on some physiological and morphological characteristics of red bean (Phaseolous vulgaris L..)

One of the negative effects of water stress on growth and crop production is micronutrient uptake reduction by plant root. Therefore، to evaluate the effect of foliar application of Fe and Zn on some physiological and morphological characteristics of red bean (Akhtar cultivar) under drought stress this experiment was designed as a split plot in a completely randomized block design with three replications. Irrigation as the main plot at three level: Irrigation after 50، 75 and 100 mm evaporation from pan evaporation، and foliar application of micronutrients as the sub-plot at four level: foliar application with water (control)، ferrous sulfate، zinc sulfate and a mixture of ferrous sulfate and zinc (each at a concentration 3/1000) was used. The results showed that delay in irrigation decreased leaf relative water content، chlorophyll content، plant height، number of lateral branches and seed yield and increased electrolyte leakage، leaf prolin and soluble sugar content in compared to control treatment. The effect of foliar application treatments was significant on all traits except leaf soluble sugars and plant height. The foliar application of Fe and Zn increased leaf relative water content، chlorophyll content، number of lateral branches and grain yield، and decreased electrolyte leakage and leaf prolin significantly. According to the results the foliar application of Fe and Zn improved physiological characteristics and stress tolerance in plants. Therefore، the plants were delayed in encountered with water stress condition، and produce a better performance.