Effect of different levels of manganese fertilizer and drought stress on yield and agronomic use efficiency of fertilizer in durum wheat in Ardabil

The present study was carried out at the Agriculture Research Center, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil Branch, Ardabil, Iran, in 2010-2011 cropping year using Seimareh durum wheat cultivar, arranged as split-plot based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) under two drought stress conditions (normal irrigation and water deficiency) and four manganese sulphate fertilizer levels (control, 50, 100 and 150 kg/ha(-1)) with three replications. Analysis of variance showed significant interaction effect for traits at 0.01% level. The best level of fertilizer was 100 kg/ha, that increased yield in comparison to control. Also, results showed that agronomic efficiency of fertilizer under stress condition was higher than under normal condition. At fertilizer level of 100 kg/ha the agronomic efficiency of fertilizer was also higher. According to drought tolerance index, at 100 kg/ha fertilizer level was best in increasing stress tolerance. Results showed that 150 kg/ha level decreased tolerance to stress in Seimareh genotype. Positive effect of manganese sulphate fertilizer amount of 00 kg/ha on stress tolerance and performance can be encountered in the last dry season and also compensation for the negative effect of time delay in the cultures used.