Iranian Journal of Field Crops Research
Homepage: https://jcesc.um.ac.ir
Research Article
Vol. 23, No. 1, Spring 2025, p. 91-108
Effects of Supplementary Irrigation and some Stress Modifiers (Vermicompost,
Nano Iron Oxide, and Humic Acid) on Grain Filling Components, Nodulation
and Grain Yield of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under Rainfed Conditions
R. Seyed Sharifi
1*
, R. Seyed Sharifi
2
1- Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of
Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
2- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili,
Ardabil, Iran
(*- Corresponding Author Email:
[email protected])
How to cite this article:
Seyed Sharifi, R., & Seyed Sharifi, R. (2025). Effects of Supplementary Irrigation and some
Stress Modifiers (Vermicompost, Nano Iron Oxide, and Humic Acid) on Grain Filling
Components, Nodulation and Grain Yield of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under Rainfed
Conditions. Iranian Journal of Field Crops Research, 23(1), 91-108. (in Persian with
English abstract). https://doi.org/10.22067/jcesc.2024.87923.1323
Received: 05 May 2024
Revised: 01 September 2024
Accepted: 5 September 2024
Available Online: 02 March 2025
Introduction
1
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important pulse crop that also serves as a soil enhancer. Among the
abiotic stresses, water deficit under rain-fed conditions limits crop production. In this regard, stress modifiers
application (such as humic acid, nano iron oxide, and vermicompost) can decrease the effects of water deficit
under rain-fed conditions and increase grain filling components, relative water content and quantum yield of
plants. Iron (Fe) is an essential element in crop plants. Application of iron and humic acid alleviates drought
effects due to enhancement in chlorophyll content, relative water content and nodulation in chickpea plants
under stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementary irrigation and stress modifiers
(such as humic acid, nano iron oxide and vermicompost) on nodulation and yield of chickpeas under rain fed
conditions.
Materials and Methods
A factorial experiment was performed at a farm near Ardabil city in 2023 using a RCBD with three
replications. Experimental treatments were vermicompost (without application as control, application of 4 and 8
ton ha
-1
), irrigation at two levels (rainfed as control and supplementary irrigation at the flowering stage) and
application of humic acid and nano iron oxide (no application as control, application of humic acid, nano iron
oxide, humic acid and nano iron oxide foliar application). The chickpea cultivar ‘Adel’ was planted with the
optimal density of 35 seeds.m
-2
. Vermicompost was prepared by Gilda Corporation and nano iron oxide from
Pishgaman Nanomaterials Company. Application of nano iron oxide and humic acid was in two growth stages
(vegetative growth and before flowering). In order to study the nodulation, three pots (with a diameter of 45 and
depth of 60 cm) were sown in each plot before planting. The pots were removed at flowering and after washing,
some traits like the number of inactive and active nodules were recorded. To investigate grain filling
components, the first sampling was taken 14 days after podding and other samplings were taken in 5-days
intervals to determine the accumulation of grain weight. The protein amount was calculated by multiplying the
nitrogen content by 6.25. For the determination of grain yield, 0.5 m
2
were harvested in each plot.
©2025 The author(s). This is an open access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in
any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source.
https://doi.org/10.22067/jcesc.2024.87923.1323