Maize (Zea mays L.) growth and yield production affected by the single and interactive effects of iron, zinc and manganese in the arid and semi-arid areas.

More has yet to be indicated on how micronutrients may affect maize (Zea mays L.) growth and yield production in the calcareous soils of arid and semi-arid areas. The single and interactive effects of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) on maize growth and yield production in the calcareous soils of Kashan, Isfahan province, Iran were tested. A two-year field experiment, as a factorial on the basis of a complete randomized block design, comprising 12 treatments with three replicates was conducted in 2016 and 2017. The single and the combined foliar application of FeSO₄ (0 (Fe1), 2 (Fe2) and 5 (Fe3) mgL^{− 1}), ZnSO₄ (0 (Zn1) and 5 (Zn2) mgL^{− 1}), and MnSO₄ (0 (Mn1) and 5 (Mn2) mgL^{− 1})), at V₈ and tasseling growth stages, were tested. Different maize growth parameters and yield components were determined. The Fe + Zn treatment had the highest impact on different corn parameters including tasseling height (49.0 cm), cob length (21.8 cm), number of grains per row (38.9), cob weight (303.7 g) and grain yield (2045 kgha^{− 1}). The Fe treatments were the most effective ones significantly increasing maize yield and yield components, followed by the Zn and Mn treatments, which may be due to high deficiency of Fe in the calcareous soils. The high number of presented trustworthy data, can be confidently used for the development of micronutrient fertilization recommendations including Fe (especially 2 mgL^{− 1}) or/and Fe + Zn or/and Fe + Zn + Mn for corn production in the calcareous soils of arid and semi-arid areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]