Effect of spraying zinc sulfate solution on yield and enrichment of sweet corn (Zea mays var saccharata) varieties under different patterns of periodic irrigation

This experiment was carried out in order to evaluate interaction effect of irrigation and zinc foliar application on physiological enrichment indices of two hybrids of sweet corn as the split plot factorial in the form of randomized complete block design with three replications in the experimental field of Faculty of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University of Arak in 2014 and 2015. All furrow irrigation (control, I1) and every other furrow irrigation (I2), and alternative every other furrow irrigation (I3) as the main plot and solution spraying levels including Zn 1 (No injection Zn), Zn 2 (Drop Zn) and Zn 3 (Fast Zn) were the subplots. Also, sweet corn (Zea mays var saccharata) varieties (sweet and ultra-sweet) were considered as the subplots.  Parameters under investigation included plant height, seed yield, one thousand seed weight, harvest index, seed Zn content and leaf proline content. Interaction effects of the treatments increased plant height by 33%, grain yield by 27%, one thousand seed weight by 21%, and harvest index by 13%. The highest amount of cannable grain yield was observed in periodic irrigation, zinc fast in Challenger hybrid while the lowest amount was recorded in every other furrow irrigation treatment without zinc and Chase Hybrid. The highest level of grain zinc content was observed in the alternative irrigation zinc fast treatment in the Challenger hybrid while the lowest level was recorded in every other furrow irrigation without zinc in Chase hybrid which showed significant difference at p≤0.01. The highest interaction of effects was observed in the alternative irrigation treatment, zinc fast, and Challenger cultivar with average harvest index and lowest was observed in every other furrow irrigation, drop Zinc, and Challenger cultivar. According to the results of this study, in low irrigation conditions, application of alternative irrigation pattern and Zinc-fast foliar application in Challenger cultivar is recommended.