Effect of Different Irrigation Levels and Planting Density on Yield, Yield Components and Morphological Traits of Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.)

To study the effect of different irrigation levels and plant densities on yield, yield components and morphological traits of artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.), a field experiment was conducted at Sarabelle Agricultural Research Station in Ilam province, Iran, during 2014-2015. The experiment was conducted as a split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments were four irrigation levels including 25 %, 50 %, 75 % and 100 % (control) of the plant water requirement that assigned to the main plots and four plant densities of 10000, 20000, 30000 and 40000 per hectare that assigned to the sub plots. The results showed that the highest plant height (242 cm), 1000-seed weight (36 g), number of buds (10 per plant), lateral shoots (10 per plant), total shoot dry weight (20872 kg.ha-1) and grain yield (2781 kg.ha-1) were obtained under 100 % plant water requirements. The highest total plant height (228.2 cm), 1000-seed weight (37 g), total shoot dry weight (20306 kg.ha-1) and grain yield (2830 kg.ha-1) were obtained at 40000 plant.ha-1. The highest number of buds per plant (10) and number of lateral branches (12) were observed at the density of 10000 plants.ha-1. The highest oil yield (694 kg.ha-1) was obtained at 40000 plants.ha-1 and under 100 % of the plant water requirement. According to the results, the highest grain yield was obtained at 40000 plants.ha-1 and under 100 % of the plant water requirement, but even under severe water deficiency conditions, it had high ability to produce forage, seed, bud and shoot. Under severe drought conditions(25 % of the plant water requirement) more than 9.8 ton shoots dry matter, 1.7 ton grain yield and 0.7 ton oil seed per hectare were obtained.