Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 M.Sc. Student, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University (Branch of Birjand), Birjand – Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Agriculture and Natural Resources Institute of South-Khorasan, Birjand – Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Birjand University, Birjand – Iran

Abstract

To investigate the effect of different amounts of Fe and Mn on qualitative and quantitative traits of forage maize (Zea mays L.) hybrid single cross 704, an experiment was conducted as a factorial in a randomized complete block design with 16 treatments and three replications at Qaneat city (Southern Khorasan Province) in 2010. Treatments consisted of 4 levels of FeSO4 (no fertilizer as control and 30, 60 and 90 kg/ha) and 4 levels of MnSO4 (no fertilizer as control and 10, 20 and 40 kg/ha).With increase of Fe and Mn fertilizers, a significant increase was occurred in plant height, leaf number, stem diameter, dry weight (stem, leaf, maize) and dry forage yield. Increased rates to optimum level (Fe-60 and Mn-20 kg/ha fertilizers according to the soil test), increased the yield, but more fertilizer reduced the quality. Therefore for forage with good quality and quantity, 60 and 20 kg/ha of Fe and Mn fertilizers, respectively is recommended for this area.

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