The study of some physiologic and biochemical traits to drought stress and methods of Fe fertilizer application in chickpea

The objective of this research was to study the effects of draught stress and Fe fertilizer on some physiologic and biochemical characteristics in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). This study was conducted at Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran, during 2011-12. The experiment laid out as split plot based on RCBD with three replications. Rainfed and without draught stress treatments were as main-plot. The levels Fe Fertilizer were as sub-plot contain eight levels (not-application of Fe Fertilizer (F1), soil-application of Fe Fertilizer (F2), Fe foliar application at branching (F3), Fe foliar application at flowering (F4), Fe foliar application at podding stage (F5), Fe soil application + Fe foliar application at branching (F6), Fe soil application + Fe foliar application at flowering (F7) and Fe soil application + Fe foliar application at podding stage (F8). Results showed that draught stress treatments had significant reduced photochemical capacity photosystem II, crop growth rate, chlorophyll content, leaf area index and Catalase specific activity. Fe fertilizer treatment had significant effect on chlorophyll content, leaf area index, Catalase specific activity and Peroxidase specific activity. Therefore, it seems that Fe foliar application improved the traits related to photosynthesis and reduced the undesirable effects of drought stress on chickpea plants.