Evaluation of zeolite on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of carela ‎‎(Momordica charantia L.) medicinal plant under deficit irrigation ‎

In order to study the application of zeolite on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of carela medicinal plant under deficit irrigation, a factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications in a greenhouse at the Agricultural Institute, University of Zabol during 2018. Experimental factors included deficit irrigation in three levels, (90, 70 and 50 % F.C.), and four levels of zeolite (0, 20, 30 and 40 g/kg of soil). The results showed that application of zeolite increased fresh and dry fruit weight, fruit diameter and fruits number per plant and deficit irrigation had a decreasing effect on the mentioned traits. Application of zeolite at all levels of deficit irrigation increased plant length, fruit length, fruit yield, chlorophyll a, b and carotenoid, vitamin C and alkaloids, so that the highest amount of these traits was obtained from 40 g/kg zeolite. In general, application of zeolite was helpful in reducing the adverse effects of deficit irrigation on carela's quantitative and qualitative traits.