Effects of Foliar Fe and Zn Application on Pod Shattering of Red Lentil Varieties in Semi-arid Region of Turkey

Background: Reducing pod shatter is crucial for achieving high yields in lentils, a vital plant for dry lands. The selection of the right lentil variety is key to achieving this goal. While some varieties are highly productive, they may also suffer from shattering losses, which can significantly reduce profitability. Methods: This study investigates the reduction of pod dehiscence in lentil pods through the foliar application of increasing rates of iron and zinc. A split-split-plot experiment was conducted with three lentil varieties ('Firat-87', 'Cagil' and 'Sanlibey'), two fertilizer types (zinc and iron sulphate) and three application rates (0-200-400 mg kg-1 and Zn rates are 0-150-250 mg kg-1) as triplicates. Result: The statistical analysis revealed that the fertilizer type had a significant effect (P less than 0.05) on pod shatter amounts, with iron sulphate being more effective than zinc in reducing pod shatter. The experiment found statistically significant (P less than 0.05) effects of foliar fertilizer rates on pod shatter. Increased Fe and Zn application rates resulted in the decreased pod shatter loss. The zinc and iron content of the leaf, pod and seed of lentils also increased with application rates for the two foliar fertilizers. The results indicate that foliar Fe and Zn application not only decreased pod shatter but also increased the mineral content (Fe and Zn) of the leaf, seed and pod of lentil varieties. The study revealed that Fe and Zn nutrient application to lentil plants increased the mineral Fe and Zn content of plant parts and decreaed the pod shatter loss in the semi-arid region of Turkey.