ORIGINAL ARTICLE

The Impact of Manganese Sulfate on Increasing Grain Yield, Protein and Manganese Content of Wheat Cultivars in Semi Arid Region

Wheat is the most important staple food crop in the world. Micronutrients are vital components for balances both growth and development in plants. An experiment was designed in order to survey the effects of manganese sulfate on yield and quality parameters of wheat cultivars in Isfahan in 2017. A split plot layout with a randomized complete block design with four replications was conducted. Main plots were manganese sulfate (contains 28% pure manganese) (20, 40 and 60 kg/ha), and sub-plots were winter wheat cultivars (Pishtaz, Shiraz and Marvdasth). Manganese sulfate influence was meaningful on the number of fertile spikes, the number of grains in spike, a thousand grain weight, grain yield, protein and manganese contents of grain. Cultivar had significant influence on number of fertile spikes, a thousand grain weight, grain yield and protein content. The highest values of fertile spike, number of grain, a thousand grain weight, harvest index, grain yield, grain protein and the content of grain manganese was achieved in application of 60 kg manganese sulfate per ha. In addition, the highest number of fertile spikes, number of grains per spike, grain yield and the content of grain manganese was related to Marvdasht cultivar. On the basis of the results, cultivation of Marvdasht cultivar and application of 60 kg Mn sulfate per ha is recommended for the semi-arid region of Isfahan.