M.A. Thesis:

Response of yield and yield components of Pishgam and Chamran wheat cultivars to solo potash foliar application

In order to evaluate the effect of foliar application of solo potash on yield and yield components of Pishgam and Chamran wheat cultivars, a factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted in Joghatai county. Experimental factors include time of foliar application of solo potash with six levels: no foliar application, foliar application at tillering, stem elongation, heading, tillering+stem elongation and tillering+heading stages and two wheat cultivars Pishgam and Chamran. The foliar application of solo potash was conducted at a concentration of 1 percent. The results indicated that the foliar application time of solo potash had significant effect on all characteristics, except for harvest index. The foliar application of solo potash improved growth characteristics, yield and yield components of two wheat cultivars Chamran and Pishgam compared with no foliar application treatment. Two foliar application of solo potash in tillering and stem elongation stages produced the highest plant height, tiller number and number of reproductive tillers per plant. The maximum spike length, number of seeds per spike, seed weight, seed yield and biological yield were obtained with two foliar application of solo potash at tillering and heading stages. There were no significant differences between Chamran and Pishgam wheat cultivars for plant height, number of tiller per plant and harvest index. However, the number of reproductive tillers per plant, spike length, seed number per spike, seed weight, seed yield and biological yield in Pishgam cultivar was significantly higher than Chamran. According to the results, at least one foliar application of solo potash in stem elongation or two foliar application of solo potash in tillering and stem elongation or tillering and heading is recommended to ensure maximum yield of wheat cultivars in similar weather conditions.

Keywords: Pishgam, Chamran, cultivar, solo potash, wheat, foliar application.