Response of Yield and Morphophysiological Characteristics of Corn (SC 704) to Different Source of Potash Fertilizer under Deficient Irrigation Situation (at South West of Iran)

BACKGROUND: Deficit irrigation strategies were effective in saving volume of water. Potassium is an essential nutrient that affects most of the biochemical and physiological processes are involved in plant resistance to biotic and a biotic stresses. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to assess effect of different pattern of irrigation and several source of potassium on crop production and morphological traits of corn. METHODS: This research was carried out via split plot experiment based on randomized complete blocks design with three replications along 2015 year. The main factor included three level of Irrigation regime (I1: Conventional Irrigation or Control, I2: Fix furrow irrigation, I3: Alternate furrow irrigation) and three level of potassium (K1: 100 kg.ha-1 Potassium sulfate base application or Control, K2: 10 kg.ha-1 Solo potash with first irrigation, K3: 100 gr.ha-1 PotaBARVAR-2 as a biofertilizer + 50 kg.ha-1 Potassium sulfate base application) belonged to sub factor. RESULT: The results showed that in different irrigation patterns, application K3 treatment with alternate furrow irrigation increased the seed yield and its components. Under deficient irrigation conditions, the plant height, length and diameter of ear were reduced and the application of K3 treatment with alternate furrow irrigation led to increase above traits. The highest number of rows per ear (16.6) and number of seed per row (28) were obtained from the interaction effect of normal irrigation and K3 treatment. The lowest number of row per ear (12.2) was due to the fix furrow irrigation and K2 treatment. The highest (237.5 gr) and lowest (213.5 gr) amount of 1000-seed weight belonged to I1K3 and I2K2 treatments, respectively. Also the maximum (5463 kg.ha-1) and minimum (2966 kg.ha-1) amount of seed yield was achieved from I1K3 and I2K2 treatments, respectively. CONCLUSION: Alternate furrow irrigation showed a significant advantage over the fix furrow irrigation after control with K3 treatment had the highest seed yield. Generally use of 100 gr.ha-1 PotaBARVAR-2 as a biofertilizer + 50 kg.ha-1 Potassium sulfate base applications with alternate furrow irrigation can be advised to farmers.