The Effect of zeolite levels on chlorophyll fluorescence of red bean (Phasaeolus vulgaris L.) under drought tension conditions

In order to investigate the effect of zeolite on some physiological traits of red bean in drought tension conditions an experiment was carried out as split plot based on randomized complete blocks design with three replications in Takhte Shirin Agro-Industry field located in Sahneh city in Kermanshah province in 2014. In this experiment drought tension as the main factor at three levels, normal irrigation (60 millimeter evaporation from pan), moderate drought tension (90 millimeter evaporation from pan) and severe drought tension (120 millimeter evaporation from pan) in main plots and zeolite in four levels zero, five, 10 and 15 were considered in the subplots. The results showed that drought tension, except for the traits chlorophyll index and minimum fluorescence, decreased chlorophyll fluorescence, leaf relative water content, chlorophyll number, leaf area and maximum fluorescence. Also, zeolite due to its ability to water absorption and retain in soil could increase other traits with the exception of two traits chlorophyll index and minimum fluorescence. The interaction between drought tension and zeolite was not significant for any of the investigated traits.