The effect of potassium chloride on vegetative parameters of sorghum inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi (Glumus mossea) under water stress condition

Subject Areas : Applied Microbiology

Ahmad Mehraban ¹ , Bahman Fazelinasab ²

1 - Associate Professor, Department of Agriculture, Zahedan branch, Islamic Azad University, Zahedan, Iran.
2 - Lecturer, Center of Agricultural Research, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran.

Received: 2016-09-24 Accepted : 2016-11-08 Published : 2017-11-22

Keywords: drought, Evaporation, Fertilizer, Symbiosis microorganisms, Glumus mossea,

Abstract :

Background & Objectives: The effect of different levels of potassium fertilizers on sorghum inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi (Glumus mossea) was evaluated under water stress condition in a split-plot experiment, based on randomized complete block design in four replicates.   Materials & Methods: Treatments were carried out in three different levels of stress including irrigation after 40, 80 and 120 mm evaporation from pan evaporation class A (S1, S2, and S3, respectively); three different levels of potassium chloride fertilizer treatments including without fertilizers, 75 kg and 150 kg/hec of potassium chloride (K1, K2 and, K3, respectively). The studied parameters were plant height, number of tiller per plant, flag leaf length, panicle length, and fresh and dry forage yield.   Results: Our results indicated that the maximum value of all measured parameters obtained from S1. Increasing water stress resulted in a decrease in both yield and growth rate. Furthermore, among K treatments, maximum panicle length and fresh and dry forage yield obtained from K3. Correlation study showed a positive correlation between forage yield of sorghum and height and diameter of the stem.   Conclusion: Among the applied treatments, the optimal amount of potassium chloride fertilizer was 150 kg/hec along with irrigation after 40 mm evaporation from the evaporation pan.