Document Type : Original research article
Authors
1 Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran
2 Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol
3 Department of Agronomy and Crop Physiology, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
The seeds of the medicinal plant dragon's head are an excellent source of fiber, oil, and protein, and are used to treat a variety of conditions, including certain nervous disorders, liver diseases, and kidney diseases. This study aimed to determine the effects of foliar application of various nano-chelate and chemical boron fertilizers on morphological indices of the dragon's head (Lallemantia iberica). This study employed a completely randomized design with nano-chelate (500, 1000, and 1500 mg/l) and boric acid (1000, 2000, and 3000 mg/l) treatments, in addition to a control group. The results demonstrated that the investigated treatments had a significant effect on the majority of dragon's head indices. The highest inflorescence length (43.66 cm) and number of cycles in the main branch (28.56) were observed in the boric acid treatment with 3000 mg/l of boric acid. The highest number of lateral branche, flower cycle per plant, and seed weight per plant, 1000-seed weight, and seed yields were obtained at 3000 mg/l of boric acid and 1500 mg/l of nano-chelated treatments, respectively. The highest number of seed per plant, plant dry weight, and biological yield were obtained in the treatments of 2000 and 3000 mg/l of boric acid and 1500 mg/l of nano-chelated boron fertilizers, respectively. Application of boron fertilizers significantly increased the nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and boron concentrations in the treated plants. In general, foliar application of boron micronutrient increased the yield and improved the indices of dragon’s head. Consequently, the application of nano-fertilizers yielded promising results due to their higher absorption efficiencies at lower concentrations than conventional fertilizers.
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