Effects of drought stress on concentration of macro- and micro-nutrients in Castor (Ricinus communis L.) plant

This study evaluated effects of drought stress on the concentrations of mineral elements in the leaves of different ecotypes of castor plant. The experimental design was a split-plot randomized complete block with three replications. It was carried out at Fozveh Agricultural Research Station located 20km from Esfahan, Iran in 2014. The main plot was four levels of water stress (30%, 45%, 60%, and 75% moisture content) and the sub-plot was six castor plant ecotypes (Esfahan, Ardestan, Arak, Naein, Yazd, and Ahwaz). The potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) contents were measured and found to be significantly affected by drought stress. Drought stress increased K, Ca and Na contents and decreased Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mg contents of the plants. Various ecotypes of castor plant showed different reactions to drought stress and the Fe concentration varied significantly by the castor plant ecotypes. Interaction between water stress and ecotypes was significant only for Cu and Zn. Understanding the element concentrations under drought stress can be useful for predicting growth and development of castor plants.