Pages: 14-18

Abstract

In order to study the effect of drought stress and plant density on the forage yield of Artichoke, a study was carried out in the Research Farm of the Agriculture School, Islamic Azad University, Maybod, in April 2015. This experimental study was performed as a split plot in randomized complete block design with three replications. The factor of water stress was applied at three levels consisting of 4, 8 and 12 cm using class A evaporation pan and the factor of plant density was considered 8, 10 and 12 plants/m2 (with the distances of 30, 40 and 50 cm in a row and the distance between the rows were 50 cm). The characteristics of fresh weight, dry weight, percentage of protein, RWC, LWP and WUE are studied. The results show that the effects of drought stress are significant on fresh weight, dry weight and LWP and the effects of plant density have importance on percentage of protein, fresh weight and LWP. The interaction between drought stress and plant density plays a major role just on the percentage of protein. Increased water stress causes reduction in the fresh weight, dry weight, percentage of protein, RWC and LWP and increase in WUE. Among the treatments, the highest yield is related to the control irrigation and 10 plant/m2 .