Document Type : Research Article
Authors
1
Agroecology Department, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Darab, Shiraz University, Iran
2
Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Darab, Shiraz University, Darab, Iran
10.22067/agry.2025.90340.1217
Abstract
Assimilate accumulation and translocation of triticale in intercropped triticale-chickpea as affected by bio-organic fertilizer and water stress
Introduction
Water stress is one of the main limiting factor for crop productivity in arid areas of the world. A strategy to mitigate the pronounced water stress levels may entail the application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs), organic matter and intercropping systems in arid regions. Among PGPRs, Pseudomonas and Azospirillum bacteria stand out for their remarkable capacity to enhance the availability of soil phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N), respectively. Sufficient P and N uptake has been documented to enhance plants' resilience to water stress through several mechanisms and, therefore, increase dry matter remobilization, grain yield in late-season severe water stress. The application of organic matter and intercropping system emerges as alternative solutions for mitigating severe water stress levels, and consequently improving dry matter remobilization and grain yield of the intercropping members.
Despite above knowledge, there is a lack of information regarding the interaction between biological fertilizer, organic matter and the triticale-chickpea intercropping system in mitigating the detrimental effects of water stress on triticale.
Therefore, this research was conducted to evaluate the effects of PGPRs, sheep manure, and intercropped triticale with chickpea (1:1) on assimilate accumulation and translocation of triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack) as a main traits for determining of the triticale grain yield under the late-season water stress in southern Iran (Fars province -Darab).
Materials and Methods
A split-factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with three replications was implemented at the research field of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Darab - Shiraz University in 2019-2020 growing season. Treatments were two levels of irrigation (Ir): [1- normal (IRN): irrigation based on the plant water requirement up to the physiological maturity stage (ZGS92) and 2- water stress (WS): irrigation based on the plant water requirement up to the milking stage] as the main plots. Three fertilizer sources (FS) [1- chemical: ( 50 kg P ha-1 + 150 kg N ha-1), 2- integrated: (25 kg P ha-1 + 75 kg N ha-1 + 20 tons sheep manure ha-1 + inoculation with Pseudomonas fluorescens and Azospirillum brasilense) 3- bio-organic: 40 tons sheep manure ha-1 + inoculation with P. fluorescens and A. brasilense] and two cropping systems (Cs) [1- monoculture of triticale, 2- intercropped triticale with chickpea (1:1)] were subjected as the sub-plots. The aboveground dry matter of the whole plant organs at the anthesis stage and dry matter of the vegetative organs at maturity were measured and the dry matter remobilization and its attributes were calculated as Barati et al mentioned. Data were analyzed using SAS 9.1 software and the means were separated by least significant difference (LSD) test at 5% probability level.
Results and Discussion
The results showed that the highest amount of assimilate remobilization was occurred in integrated (2271.9 kg ha-1) and intercropped triticale (2188.4 kg ha-1) under IRN condition. Assimilate remobilization and assimilate remobilization efficiency decreased by water stress. However, these decrements were different in the two cropping systems. Intercropped triticale as compared to its sole cropping showed the lower decrease in these traits (16.5% and 4.3%, respectively). Furthuremore, the lowest decrease amounts of assimilate remobilization and assimilate remobilization efficiency by water stress was occurred in bio-organic (16.0%) and integrated (2.3%), respectively. Grain yield showed positive and linear relationship with assimilate remobilization in IRN and WS conditions (R2 = 0.65 and R2 = 0.95, respectively).
Conclusions
As a result, for increasing assimilate remobilization and then after triticale grain yield, triticale – chickpea intercropping and integrated fertilizer application is recommended in IRN condition. In contrast, when water stress is feasible, bio-organic fertilizer system and intercropped triticale is recommendable.
Keywords: Grain yield, Harvest index, Dry matter remobilization efficiency, Contribution of pre anthesis assimilate to grain
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