Effect of superabsorbent polymer application on some agrophysiological traits and yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) plant under water deficit stress in Horand region

In order to investigate the effect of using superabsorbent polymer on some growth parameters and performance of chickpea under drought stress conditions, a factorial experiment was carried out in the form of a randomized complete block design with four replications in the crop year of 2021 in Horand region of East Azarbaijan province. The experimental treatments include three levels of irrigation (full irrigation as a control, mild water restriction or irrigation interruption in the pod setting stage, and severe water restriction or irrigation interruption in the flowering stage) and different amounts of superabsorbent (no use of superabsorbent, 50, 100 and 150 kg/ha), respectively. The results of the analysis of variance of the studied traits showed that the application of stress and the effect of using superabsorbent polymer on all the evaluated traits were significant at the probability level of 1%. The interaction of drought stress and superabsorbent polymer on plant height, leaf chlorophyll content, number of pods per plant, grain yield and biological yield at the probability level of 1% and had no significant effect on other traits. so that the highest grain yield (1710.94 kg.ha-1) was given to the treatment (full irrigation and 150 kg.ha-1). The results showed that with increasing drought stress, the values of physiological traits such as chlorophyll content and relative water content of leaves decreased, but proline content of leaves increased. If the use of superabsorbent significantly increased the physiological traits. According to the obtained results, the superabsorbent reduced the damage caused by drought.