The Effect of Super Absorbent Polymer A200 and Manure Fertilizer on Reducing Drought Stress in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Different Cultivars

In order to investigate the effect of super absorbent polymer (A200) and manure on reducing drought stress effects in wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivars, a factorial experiment was carried out based on randomized complete block design with three replications. This study was done at the research field of Agricultural Research Center, West-Azerbaijan (Saatlo) during 2017-2018 cropping seasons. The first factor was irrigation at two levels: normal conditions (irrigation after 75 mm evaporation from class A pan) and drought stress conditions (irrigation after 220 mm evaporation from class A pan). The second factor was super absorbent polymer 200 kg ha-1, manure 40 ton ha-1, their concomitant application and the control (no manure) and the third factor included wheat cultivars (Mihan, Heidari and Zarineh). The results indicated that drought stress, as compared to the normal irrigation reduced grain yield about 32%. Separate and concomitant application of super absorbent polymer and manure in comparison with the control, increased grain yield by 20, 22 and 33%, respectively. Between cultivars, Mihan cultivar for grain yield, 1000-kernel weight, grain per spike and spike per square meter was superior under two different moisture conditions. Application super absorbent polymer and manure with increasing plant access to water and decreasing drought stress led to improved grain yield components including, 1000-kernel weight and grain per spike in wheat different cultivars that cause to increased grain yield. Under optimum irrigation and drought stress conditions, the highest income from grain yield and straw was obtained from the use of manure and Heidari cultivar.