Investigation Effect of Different Levels of Zinc Element on Seed Yield and Its Components of Various Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Cultivars

BACKGROUND: Fertilizer management is one of the most important factors in successful cultivation to improve quality and quantity of crop production. OBJECTIVES: In order to examine the effects of different levels of zinc fertilizer on yield of different barley cultivars, this study was done in the agricultural year 2020-21 in Susangerd County. METHODS: Current research was conducted by using split plots within a randomized complete block design with three replications. The main plots consisted of three barley cultivars (13 Sarasari, 10 Sarasari and local Susangerd), and the subplots included different levels of zinc fertilizer (Z1=0, Z2=20, Z3=40, and Z4=80 ZnSO4 kg.ha-1). RESULT: The results indicated that the highest number of spikes belonged to the local Susangerd cultivar (375.2) and 10 Sarasari (277.6), and also the highest number of grains per spike and 1000 grain weight were attributed, in order, to the 10 Sarasari and 13 Sarasari cultivars (40.17) and (53.6). The highest number of spikes, number of grains, and 1000 grain weight were achieved with the consumption of 80 kilograms of zinc per hectare. The interactive effects of treatments were not statistically significant for any of the examined traits. CONCLUSION: Overall, considering the environmental conditions of the southern Khuzestan province and the deficiency of zinc in the soils of this region, the use of zinc fertilizer can be effective in improving the grain yield of cereals in the province.