Effects of Acidified Irrigation Water and Iron Fertilizers on Shoot Dry Yield, Iron Uptake and Photochemical Efficiency of Corn

Expansion and economical importance of yield reduction due to iron deficiency chlorosis in the worldhas attracted many researchers attention. Different materials, such as iron sulfate, acidifiedremediation, wastes, by-products of industries, iron chelate and organic compounds, have been testedto correct iron chlorosis. This experiment studied effect of applying an iron fertilizer for corn (SC 704)consisting sulfur and Thiobacillus bacteria. Experiment was carried out in greenhouse in factorial withcomplete of randomized design in four replications. The first factor was two kinds of irrigation water,w1= irrigation with ordinary water of soil and water research station of Karaj and w2= irrigation withacidified water of station with pH of 5-5.2 (acidified with sulfuric acid). The second factor was seveniron fertilizer treatments, T1=Control (without iron fertilizer); T2= Iron sequestrine 138 (10 mg. kg-1),T3= Iron sulfate (110 mg.kg-1), T4= Iron oxide powder of iron ore (220 mg.kg-1), T5= T4 + sulfur(250 mg.kg-1 powdered sulfur) + Thiobacillus inoculant (104 cell.gr soil -1), T6= T5 + organic matter,T7= T3 + organic matter. Nitrogen, potassium, triple superphosphate, Mn, Zn, Cu sulfates and acidboric was used 200, 85, 90, 10, 5, 10 and 5 mg. kg-1, respectively. In the end of experiment, Dry shootand root weight, iron uptake, chlorophyll Index (SPAD 502) and Fv/Fm were measured. Based onresults, acidified irrigation water had significant effect on shoot dry weight and P and Fe uptake at fivepercent probability level, but had no significant effect on chlorophyll index. Effects of differentfertilizer treatments on dry weight, P and Fe uptake and chlorophyll index, against Fv/Fm, weresignificant on five percent level. T6 and T7 produced highest shoot dry weight and T2 produced thelowest. The highest amount of P and Fe uptake was belonging to T7 and the lowest was belonging toT2. The highest amount of chlorophyll index was belonging to T6. Between treatments there was nosignificant difference on Fv/Fm factor.

Effects of Acidified Irrigation Water and Iron Fertilizers on Shoot Dry Yield, Iron Uptake and Photochemical Efficiency of Corn Keywords:

Iron sources , Corn , Uptake , Acidified water , Chlorophyll and Fv/Fm