Effects of Nano Iron Oxide on the Yield and Some Physiological and Biochemical Traits of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under Rainfed and Supplementary Irrigation Conditions

In order to study the effects of supplementary irrigation and nano iron oxide on  the grain yield, and  some physiological and biochemical traits of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under rain fed conditions, a factorial experiment was conducted based on a  randomized complete block design with three replications in Agricultural Research Station of Ardabil, Northwest of Iran, in 2016. Factors included irrigation levels (no irrigation as the rainfed, supplementary irrigation at heading and booting stages), nano iron oxide application at four levels (without nano iron oxide as the control, application of 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 g L-1). Application of 0.9 g L-1 nano iron oxide under rainfed condition increased soluble sugars and proline content and antioxidant enzymes activity (catalase, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase) by 129.89, 168.76, 27.64, 94.2, and 31.71%, respectively, in comparison with no application of nano iron oxide and supplementary irrigation at the booting stage. Also, there were 75.89 and 38.43 increases, respectively, in the leaf protein and grain yield with the application of 0.9 g L-1 nano iron oxide and the supplementary irrigation at the booting stage, in comparison with no application of nano iron oxide under rainfed conditions. It seems that the application of nano iron oxide and supplementary irrigation can increase the grain yield of wheat under rainfed conditions due to improving the physiological and biochemical traits.