Effect of Foliar Application of Magnesium and Potassium Sulfate on Morphological, Biochemical and Yield Characteristics of Maize (Zea mays L.) During Water Deficiet Stress

Drought stress is one of the most important factors that limiting the growth and yield of plants. In recent years the use of various methods to reduce its negative effects has been considered by many researchers. This experiment was performed as a split plot in the form of randomized complete blocks with four replications in two years. The effect of foliar application of different ratios of magnesium and potassium on the morphological, biochemical and functional characteristics of maize (single cross cultivar 704) in different irrigation cycles (50, 75 and 100 mm evaporation from Class A evaporation pan) was evaluated. The results of analysis of variance showed that the interaction of irrigation and magnesium to potassium ratio on the characteristics of height, stem diameter, ear length, number of seeds per ear, potassium uptake, magnesium uptake, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, Carotenoids, proline, biological yield, grain yield and harvest index had a statistically significant effect. The results of the study of the effect of potassium and magnesium on morphological and biochemical changes in drought tolerance in maize (Single Cross 704 cultivar) showed that consumption of these elements significantly increased plant height, stem diameter, ear length, number of seeds per ear, uptake rate Potassium, magnesium uptake, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, proline, biological yield, grain yield and harvest index in water deficit conditions; So that the highest value of these traits in evapotranspiration conditions was 50 mm from the evapotranspiration pan and application of 200 kg of magnesium sulfate/ 300 kg of potassium sulfate. Also, foliar application of different concentrations of potassium sulfate and magnesium sulfate by increasing the uptake of potassium and magnesium, preserving leaf chlorophyll, resulting in more effective photosynthesis as well as increasing the concentration of proline in plant leaves, moderate the negative effects of water deficiency and corn tolerance to conditions. Improve water shortage.