Effects of Foliar Silicon on Physiological, Biochemical Traits and Yield of Safflower under Different Irrigation Regimes

Mehdi Najafian; Mohamad Rahim Owji; Farhad Mohajeri; Mehdi Madandoust

doi:10.17557/tjfc.1760496

Effects of Foliar Silicon on Physiological, Biochemical Traits and Yield of Safflower under Different Irrigation Regimes

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of silicon foliar application on the yield, photosynthetic pigments, biochemical traits, and antioxidant capacity of three Iranian safflower cultivars (Faraman, Goldasht, and Golmehr) under different moisture conditions during the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons in the hot and arid climate of Fars Province, Iran. The experiment was laid out as a factorial split-plot arrangement based on a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments included four irrigation regimes (full irrigation as control, irrigation withholding at stem elongation, flowering, and seed filling stages) assigned to the main plots, and the combination of three silicon concentrations (100, 150, and 200 mg L⁻¹) with three safflower cultivars allocated to subplots. Results showed that the highest leaf area index (3.5) and chlorophyll a content (4 mg g⁻¹ fresh weight) were obtained under full irrigation (supplying 100% of the crop water requirement). In contrast, the highest proline content (5 mg g⁻¹ fresh weight) and peroxidase activity (1.55 U mg⁻¹ protein) were observed when irrigation was withheld during the flowering stage. Moreover, silicon application, particularly at 200 mg L⁻¹, significantly enhanced photosynthetic pigments, biochemical compounds, and seed yield. Among the cultivars, Faraman exhibited superior levels of pigments, biochemical constituents, and antioxidant activity, as well as higher yield and greater drought tolerance than the others. Overall, flowering was identified as the most drought-sensitive growth stage in safflower, and silicon foliar application especially at 200 mg L⁻¹ proved to be an effective approach for mitigating drought stress effects and improving yield.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Agronomy

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Mehdi Najafian This is me
0009-0006-2434-3763
Iran

Mohamad Rahim Owji ^*
0000-0001-6362-6103
Iran

Farhad Mohajeri This is me
0000-0003-4217-2655
Iran

Mehdi Madandoust This is me
0000-0002-0308-4698
Iran

Publication Date

December 28, 2025

Submission Date

August 7, 2025

Acceptance Date

November 24, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 30 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.17557/tjfc.1760496

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA47GA56RJ

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Najafian, M., Owji, M. R., Mohajeri, F., & Madandoust, M. (2025). Effects of Foliar Silicon on Physiological, Biochemical Traits and Yield of Safflower under Different Irrigation Regimes. Turkish Journal Of Field Crops, 30(2), 378-392. https://doi.org/10.17557/tjfc.1760496

AMA

1.Najafian M, Owji MR, Mohajeri F, Madandoust M. Effects of Foliar Silicon on Physiological, Biochemical Traits and Yield of Safflower under Different Irrigation Regimes. TJFC. 2025;30(2):378-392. doi:10.17557/tjfc.1760496

Chicago

Najafian, Mehdi, Mohamad Rahim Owji, Farhad Mohajeri, and Mehdi Madandoust. 2025. “Effects of Foliar Silicon on Physiological, Biochemical Traits and Yield of Safflower under Different Irrigation Regimes”. Turkish Journal Of Field Crops 30 (2): 378-92. https://doi.org/10.17557/tjfc.1760496.

EndNote

Najafian M, Owji MR, Mohajeri F, Madandoust M (December 1, 2025) Effects of Foliar Silicon on Physiological, Biochemical Traits and Yield of Safflower under Different Irrigation Regimes. Turkish Journal Of Field Crops 30 2 378–392.

IEEE

[1]M. Najafian, M. R. Owji, F. Mohajeri, and M. Madandoust, “Effects of Foliar Silicon on Physiological, Biochemical Traits and Yield of Safflower under Different Irrigation Regimes”, TJFC, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 378–392, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.17557/tjfc.1760496.

ISNAD

Najafian, Mehdi - Owji, Mohamad Rahim - Mohajeri, Farhad - Madandoust, Mehdi. “Effects of Foliar Silicon on Physiological, Biochemical Traits and Yield of Safflower under Different Irrigation Regimes”. Turkish Journal Of Field Crops 30/2 (December 1, 2025): 378-392. https://doi.org/10.17557/tjfc.1760496.

JAMA

1.Najafian M, Owji MR, Mohajeri F, Madandoust M. Effects of Foliar Silicon on Physiological, Biochemical Traits and Yield of Safflower under Different Irrigation Regimes. TJFC. 2025;30:378–392.

MLA

Najafian, Mehdi, et al. “Effects of Foliar Silicon on Physiological, Biochemical Traits and Yield of Safflower under Different Irrigation Regimes”. Turkish Journal Of Field Crops, vol. 30, no. 2, Dec. 2025, pp. 378-92, doi:10.17557/tjfc.1760496.

Vancouver

1.Mehdi Najafian, Mohamad Rahim Owji, Farhad Mohajeri, Mehdi Madandoust. Effects of Foliar Silicon on Physiological, Biochemical Traits and Yield of Safflower under Different Irrigation Regimes. TJFC. 2025 Dec. 1;30(2):378-92. doi:10.17557/tjfc.1760496