Effects of Mycorrhizae and nano Fe-Zn oxide on nodulation and quantitative and qualitative yield of rain fed lentil (Lens culinaris L.)

In order to study the effects of mycorrhizae and foliar application of nano Fe and Zn oxides on nodulation and quantitative and qualitative yield of lentil under rain fed conditions, a factorial experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications in a farm at Zardalo village, Ardabil province during 2017-2018. Treatments included foliar application of nano Fe and Zn oxides at four levels (foliar application with water as control, foliar application of nano iron oxide (0.6 gL-1), nano zinc oxide (0.6 gL-1), combined foliar application of nano Fe and Zn oxides (0.3 g L-1 each), and application of mycorrhiza at four levels (no application of mycorrhiza as control, application of Mycorrhizae mosseae, Mycorrhiza intraradices, and combined application of Mycorrhiza intraradices with mycorrhiza mosseae). Means comparison showed that foliar application of nano Fe-Zn oxides as well as combined application of mycorrhizal mosseae and intraradices increased number of active nodules per plant, percentage of active nodules per plant, 100 grain weight, and grain yield by 173.2, 93.08, 36.58, and 58.34% respectively in comparison with no foliar application of nano Fe-Zn oxide and no application of mycorrhiza. Also, combined foliar application of nano Fe-Zn oxide along with mycorrhiza mosseae and intraradices increased respectively the number of grains per pod, number of pods per plant, dry weight of root, zinc content of grains, and protein contentof grains increased by 42.14, 95.17, 12o, 58.2, and 47.55%, respectively in comparison with no application of mycorrhiza and nano Fe-Zn oxide. It seems that foliar application of nano Fe-Zn oxide and mycorrhiza application owing to improving some morphophysiological traits can be considered as a proper method for increasing quantitative and qualitative yield and mitigating the effects of water deficit in rain fed conditions.