Investigating the Effect of Zinc Sulfate on Quantitative and Qualitative Characteristics of Three Varieties of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in Khuzestan Province (Southwest of Iran)

Zinc is one of the low consumption elements required by plants, which plays an important role in photosynthesis.
The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of zinc sulfate on barley crop production and introduce the best cultivar affected dry and warm climatic conditions.
Current research was done according factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 3 replications in the research farm of Khuzestan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (Ramin) in 2018. Treatment included four different concentrations of zinc (0, 15, 30, 45 kg.ha-1) and three varieties of barley (Sarasari 13, Sarsari 10 and Nimrouz).
By using 45 kg of zinc sulfate per hectare, the highest leaf area index (5.65) was obtained, which showed 31% increase compared to the treatment without zinc sulfate. Consumption of 45 kg of zinc sulfate per hectare, the highest chlorophyll index (46.8) was obtained, which showed 17% increase compared to the treatment without zinc sulfate. The highest seed yield and seed zinc percentage were obtained under the consumption of 45 kg of zinc sulfate per hectare, respectively (3325 kg.ha-1 and 54.2 mg.kg-1). Varieties had a significant effect on all investigated traits, except for leaf area index, seed and plant zinc content.
So that the highest seed yield was obtained in the Sarasari 10 cultivar with an average of 3327 kg.ha-1. By increasing the consumption of zinc sulfate fertilizer, the yield and zinc content of the seed increased. The Sarasari 10 cultivar showed better reaction to zinc sulfate.