deficit irrigation and macro and micro fertilizers effects on morpho-physiological traits of summer annual savory (satureja hortensis l.)

to investigate the effect of deficit irrigation and macro and micro fertilizers on morpho-physiological characteristics of satureja a field experiment was conducted in agricultural research station of haji-abad (hormozghan province-iran) a split plot randomized complete block design with three replications during the growing season of 2012-2014. irrigation treatments consisted of normal, moderate and severe water stress (with 70, 100 and 130 mm evaporation from open pan class a) as main plots and nine fertilizer allocated to sub-plots included of triple superphosphate, low and high levels (100 and 200 kg per ha) of ammonium nitrate each at low and high levels (100 and 200 kg. ha-1), foliar application of zinc sulfate and iron sulfate each at low and high levels (0 and 0.5 kg. ha-1), and a control (no fertilizer). the experimental results showed that irrigation treatment and fertilizer application had significant effects on plant height and number of secondary branches. interaction effects showed that moderate water stress and micro fertilizer application increased proline and soluble sugar content in savory plant. the highest chlorophyll concentration (2.66 mg. gr-1 on plant fresh weight basis) and leaf relative water content (62.7%) was related to normal irrigation treatment. the irrigation regime increased levels of proline, and essential oil contents. also the micronutrients spraying increased the savory plant tolerance to water deficit stress.