Document Type : Research Paper
Author
DEPARTMENT of agronomyDepartment of Agronomy, Malekan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Malekan, Iran.
Abstract
Objective: “Considering the importance of reducing the use of chemical inputs, the present study investigated the effects of foliar spraying of bacteria and vitamins on the growth characteristics and yield of quinoa”.
Method: “In this study, the effects of foliar spraying of bacteria and vitamins on the growth and yield of quinoa were investigated in two experimental years at the research farm of Islamic Azad University, Malekan Branch. The experiment was conducted in a split plot with a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications and two different treatments. The treatments included the use of different strains of bacteria and different concentrations of vitamins. Foliar spraying was carried out in the morning or evening to reduce evaporation and was carried out twice a year during the growing season. The effects of foliar spraying on parameters such as chlorophyll content, soluble sugars, plant hormones and proteins were investigated and the data were compared using analysis of variance and Duncan's test”.
Results: “The results of analysis of variance showed that plant height, leaf area index, content of plant hormones (auxin, cytokinin, and gibberellin), chlorophyll content, and grain yield were significantly affected by foliar spraying of bacteria and vitamins. The highest increase in plant height (110 cm) was related to the B. subtilis treatment, which increased 12.2% more than the control. Also, foliar spraying with vitamins, especially at a concentration of 150 mg/L, increased the plant height by 6.8% and improved the leaf area index. Different treatments significantly increased the concentration of plant hormones auxin and cytokinin in the leaves. The highest auxin concentration was observed in the B.subtilis treatment with 150 mg/L of vitamin, which increased by 81%. Also, bacterial and vitamin treatments had positive effects on chlorophyll production, so that the combination of these two factors increased more than the separate application of each of them. Finally, quinoa grain yield was significantly affected by the combination of B.subtilis and 150 mg/L of vitamin treatments, and showed an increase of 23.15% compared to the control. In addition, foliar spraying with bacteria and vitamins also increased the protein content of the grains, so that the highest amount of grain protein belonged to the B.subtilis treatment in the first year”.
Conclusion: “The results of this study showed that foliar application of bacteria and vitamins has positive effects on quinoa growth and yield. In particular, the application of growth-promoting bacteria such as *B.subtilis* and *P.fluorescens* in combination with vitamins significantly increased various quinoa traits including plant height, leaf area index, plant hormone content (auxin, cytokinin and gibberellin), chlorophyll index and grain yield. The combination of these two treatments had a greater effect on improving grain yield and product quality than the use of each individually. Also, this combination was effective in increasing grain protein content. Based on the results obtained, it is recommended that farmers use a combination of foliar application of bacteria and vitamins to improve quinoa yield, especially in treatments that include *B.subtilis* and 150 mg/L of vitamins
150 mg/L of vitamins
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