Abstract:

Drought stress is one of the most important abiotic stress factors affecting plants. In this study, the effect of potassium fertilizers as K2SO4, KNO3 and KCI foliar applied to two tomato cultivars (Kamenta F1: processing tomato and Fereng: local tomato genotype) under drought stress on macro-micro elements (potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc and manganese) and antioxidant (total sugar, phenolic and flavonoid) content of the leaf was investigated. The experiment was carried out in the open field under the producer conditions in Çığır village of İdil district of Şırnak Province during the April-August 2020 growing season. In the study, 3 different irrigation levels of 100% (control), 66% and 33% were applied. As fertilizer, 1% K2SO4, KNO3 and KCl were sprayed on the leaves. As a result of the experiment, it was observed that drought stress caused a decrease in the K, Ca, Mg, Fe and Cu contents of the leaves in both tomato cultivars, but the applied potassium fertilizers improved the macro-micro nutrient contents. The total sugar content, total phenolic, and flavonoid content of the plants at 33% irrigation conditions were higher than those applied 100% irrigation. The Mn and Zn contents of the plants under 33% and 66% irrigation increased compared to the control. As a result, it was determined that KNO3 application was more effective on macro-micro nutrient element contents of leaves compared to K2SO4 and KCI applications.

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