Investigation of changes in some morphophysiological traits, yield and quality indices of two Kochia ecotype (Kochia scoparia) in drought stress under field conditions

In order to investigate the effect of low irrigation on some morph physiological and qualitative characteristics of Kochia plant, an experiment was carried out in split plot arrangement base on randomized complete block design with three replications in farm of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, during of 2017. The main plots consisted of three levels of irrigation (50, 65 and 80% water requirement plant: WRP) and sub plots was two Koshia ecotype (Sabzevar and Boroujerd). The results showed that with decreasing irrigation water to 65 and 50% of PWR, the plant height reduction was about 15 and 26%, and the green area index was also declined about 25 and 38% in compare of irrigation in 80% of PWR.The highest fresh (27.9 t/ha) and dry (11.3 t/ha) forages weight were obtained from irrigation on 80% WRP treatment. Sabzevar ecotype was produced about 5.24 (t/ha) in fresh and 4.10 (t/ha)in dry forages more than another Koshiaecotype. The lowest amount of relative water content (70.5%) and maximum electrolyte leakage (54.2%) were observed from 50% WRP. The highest percentage of crude protein (13.2%) was recorded in irrigation with 65% WRP, the highest amount of NDF and ADF were obtained from irrigation on 80% WRP treatment and the lowest of them were recorded from 50% WRP, as 19.1% and 71.9%, respectively.Sabzevarecotype had more morphological traits (plant height, green area index, fresh and dry forage, relative water content) and forage nutritional value than Boroujerd ecotype. In both ecotypes, with reducing the amount of irrigation water lead toimproveforage nutritional value. The results of correlation coefficients showed that the forage yield had a significant positive correlation with plant height (r = 0.49 *) and green area index (r = 0.57 **).