INFLUENCE OF IRON FOLIAR FERTILIZATION ON SOME GROWTH AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF WHEAT AT TWO GROWTH STAGES

A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the influence of foliar application of iron on growth and physiological parameters of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. Alex cultivar) at various growth stages, during the growing season 20122013 at Didactic Station, Timisoara, Romania. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Wheat plants were exposed to four treatments: control (T1), Fe applied to plants at Feekes growth stage 2 (T2), Fe applied to plants at Feekes growth stage 9 (T3), Fe applied to plants at growth stage Feekes 2 and 9 (T4). The treatments were foliar application of Fe (1000 mg L-1) using iron chelate [Fe-DTPA (6% Fe)]. Foliar solution of Fe was sprayed with a hand held pump sprayer at the rate of 1.2 L plot(-1) on plant foliage. Soil samples were collected before sowing of crop from 0-25 cm depth and analyzed for chemical and physical properties. Data analysis showed that there were significant differences among treatments on plant height, number of plants, flag leaf area and flag leaf chlorophyll content. The highest plant height (88 cm), number of plants m(-2) (418), flag leaf area (30 cm(2)) and chlorophyll (59.3 SPAD value) were obtained from the foliar application of Fe at Feekes GS 2 and Feekes GS 9 (T4), in comparison with the control. The data suggest that foliar application of Fe during vegetative growth stages can maximize plant growth and development of wheat.