Effect of iron foliar fertilization on growth, seed and oil yield of sunflower grown under different irrigation regimes.

2 Abstract: This study was conducted in order to evaluate of effect of iron sulfate foliar application on yield and some agronomic traits of two sunflower cultivars under drought stress conditions. The experiment was carried out in 2009 growing season in the Agricultural Research Station of Eastern Azerbaijan. The experiment was RCBD with split plot arrangement with three replications. The main factor included three levels of drought stress (irrigation after 40, 60 and 75% soil water depletion from field capacity) sub factor included two sunflower cultivars and sub-sub factor included iron sulfate solutions (0, 2 and 4 part per thousand). Following traits were assayed in this study; plant height, stem diameter, leaf dry weight, stem dry weight, total dry weight, leaf area, 1000 seed weight, seed yield and oil yield. Analysis of variance showed significant difference among different levels of drought stress and also different concentration of iron sulfate on above mentioned traits. The results showed that there was no significant difference between two cultivars. In general, drought stress led to decrease of vegetative growth, seed and oil yield, while iron foliar application significantly improved dry matter production and finally increased seed and oil yield. So iron sulfate foliar application (4 part per 1000) is recommended in sunflower farms under normal and drought stress conditions.