Enrichment of Fe Density in Barley (Hordeum vulgare) Grain with Iron Foliar Application

An experiment was designed in order to study the effect of foliar application of iron on biomass, grain yield and iron density in barley grains. For the purpose a pot experiment was conducted in glass house combined treatment of soil application of farmyard manure (FYM) and FeSO4.7H2O (10 mg/kg soil each) at presowing, and foliar application of 0.5% aqua solution of FeSO4.7H2O were given at different time point (35, 45, 55 and 65d) of plant growth. Seeds of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) var. K551 were sown in earthen pots in October and subjected to four treatments and a control. All observations were taken at all the time points of treatments. The data analysis showed that plant height, flag leaf area chlorophyll content, specific enzyme activities of catalase and peroxidase in leaves, number of tillers/plant, number of grain/ear, weight of grain/ ear, dry matter, grain yield, and iron concentration in different plant parts including the grains were significantly increased as compared to control. Maximum accumulation of the Fe nutrient in grain and yield were observed at 35 days of plant growth.