Effect of drought tension and salicylic acid on some morphophysiological and agronomic traits of guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.)

Guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) is a tropical drought tolerant crop, potentially proper for arid areas. The objective of present survey was to evaluate the effect of different irrigation regimes and salicylic acid levels on morphological, physiological and seed yield of Guar. The present experiment was conducted as split plots based on randomized complete blocks design with four replications. The main irrigation interval included three levels (six, nine and 12 days) and a sub-factor, salicylic acid containing four concentrations (zero, 0/5, 1 and 2 milliMolar). Foliar application of salicylic acid in three stages of five leaves, flowering and scalloping of plants was carried out. The results of the research showed that plant height, number of leaves per plant and photosynthetic pigments significantly decreased. The use of one milliMolar salicylic acid increased the number of leaves per plant and the concentration of two milliMolar salicylic acid increased plant height, chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll in Guar. The highest number of lateral branches and crude fiber was obtained at the concentration of two milliMolar salicylic acid and irrigation intervals of six days. The highest biological yield and grain yield were related to one milliMolar salicylic acid concentration and the irrigation interval of six days (1245/25 kilogram per hectare) that there were no significantly difference with two milliMolar salicylic acid concentration and six days irrigation interval (1227/75 kilogram per hectare). The results showed that the highest amount of grain yield was obtained at a concentration of one milliMolar salicylic acid concentration and six days irrigation interval.