Effects of Iron Application on Growth Characters and Flower Yield of Calendula officinalis L. Under Water Stress

To evaluate the effects of iron application on growth characters of Calendula officinalis L. under end season water deficit condition, an experiment was conducted as split plot at the Research Farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University (latitude 37.53°N, 45.08°E and 1320m above sea level), Urmia, Iran in 2010. Treatments were irrigation (irrigation disruption at first, second, third harvest and without disruption as control) as main plot and amount of iron fertilizer (0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 l/ha iron as sub plot were arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications. Data analysis of variance showed the significant effect of irrigation on the stem diameter and significant interaction between irrigation disruption and iron on the numbers of sub stem and leaf, leaf weight, the latest sub stem number, single leaf area, flower diameter and flower yield. The maximum number of sub stem (9.66), single leaf area (1170 mm ) and leaf weight (8.93 g/plant) were obtained 2 from irrigation disruption after third harvest and 1.5 l/ha iron application. The maximum numbers of leaf (13.82) was observed from irrigation disruption after third harvest and 1 l/ha iron application. The maximum yield of flower (591.7 kg/ha) was observed from control treatment (without irrigation disruption) and 1 l/ha iron application.