Environ Exp Biol (2020) 18: 291–298

Improvement of the physiologic characters, grain yield and quality of soybean induced by magnetic water and methanol

Abstract

This experiment was performed to improve the physiologic characters, grain yield and quality of soybean, by application of magnetic water and methanol in the research field at the Agriculture Faculty, Islamic Azad University-Sanandaj branch, Iran, during two consecutive years (2016 – 2017). The experiment was designed as a split plot. Different intensities of magnetic water (control, 4, 8, 12 mT) were used in the main plot and foliar application of methanol concentrations (control, 10, 20 and 30% v/v) in sub-plots. Chlorophyll content, leaf relative water content, plant height, grain number per plant, grain yield, oil and protein content were significantly higher in treatments with magnetic water and methanol spraying. Grain yield, oil and protein content were traits increased by magnetic irrigation with 12 and 8 mT intensities, compared to the control, by 72.23, 5.32 and 10.08%, respectively. Methanol foliar application at 20% concentration increased grain yield, oil and protein content by 19.04, 3.91 and 5.25%, respectively. The interaction effect of year × magnetic water was significant for oil and protein content at 5% probability. The interaction effect of year × methanol was also significant for plant height, grain yield, and oil and protein content at 1% probability. The superiority of these traits was evident in the second year under the influence of magnetic water at 8 mT and 20% methanol. Interaction effects of magnetic water × methanol indicated that maximum oil content was achieved at 8 mT magnetic water and 20% methanol treatment.