Evaluating the effects of water stress and urban waste compost on morpho-physiological indices and yield components of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik)

Abstract

Compost fertilizer because of containing abundant nutrients, high capacity for holding water, plant growth regulators and helpful microorganisms can improve soil physicochemical characteristics and play an effective role in plant growth and development. In order to evaluate the effects of compost fertilizer on morpho-physiological indices of lentil under water deficit stress, a factorial experiment was conducted in a natural environment and with three replications based on a completely randomized design in the Khatam Alanbia University of Behbahan. The experiment treatments consisted of five ratios of compost fertilizer and soil (0:100, 5:95, 15:85, 25:75, and 35:65) and three levels of water stress inclding no stress, moderate stress, and severe stress (irrigation at 25, 50, and %75 of field capacity, respectively). Results showed that there were significant differences in all traits under different compost fertilizer and water stress levels. The findings also showed that under no stress and moderate water stress conditions, application of a mixture of compost and soil at %25 and %35 weight, resulted in a significant increase in the plant height, leaf area, leaf number, root dry weight, root length, root area, and Chlorophyll a and a/b ratio compared to the control levels. Under severe water stress, application of compost at 35% level led to a significant increase in the number of leaves, leaf area, root length, and Chlorophyll a content. Therefore, the use of a mixture of compost and soil (especially 35:65 ratio) is recommended to improve the morpho-physiological characteristics and yield componentsof lentil under moderate (or severe) water stress conditions.

Keywords

• drought stress
• leaf area
• chlorophyll content
• root characteristics
• yield components