The Effects of Drought Stress and Zeolites on leaf nutrients of Lathyrus sativus

To evaluate the effect of different rates of zeolites and water deficit stress on some physiological traits of Lathyrus sativus, a factorial experiment was conducted at Urmia University in 2012. Treatments were two levels of irrigation (irrigation at field capacity (FC) and 50 % FC) was applied in two-leaf stage and four levels of zeolites (0, 10, 20 and 30 ton/ha). Before planting, zeolite was added to the soil in deepness of root development. Results of ANOVA indicated the significant effect of irrigation on the leaf proline, leaf nitrogen, leaf phosphorus, leaf potassium, leaf protein content and protein yield, and the significant effect of zeolite on the leaf nitrogen, leaf phosphorus, leaf protein content and protein yield. Water deficit stress significantly decreased these traits, whereas the application of zeolites compensated the negative effect of drought stress, especially in high rates of zeolite application (30 ton/ha). The highest leaf N (2.17 %), leaf P (0.2 %) and leaf K (0.23 %) were obtained from application of 30 ton/ha zeolites. These findings strongly suggested that the irrigation interval for Lathyrus production can be increased by application of zeolites.

Keywords:

Lathyrus sativus , Leaf nutrients , Water stress , Zeolite