| Abstract:
The effect of plant density on the seed yield and mucilage of Plantago ovata Forsk. was studied using a randomized complete block design under dry farming conditions at two stations: a) Maraveh-Tapeh, 240 km northeast of Gorgan, with a long-term average rainfall of 330 mm (low rainfall) and b) Chalaky station, 8 Km west of Gorgan with a long-term average rainfall of 550 mm (rainfed). The experimental plots were planted at densities of 100, 200 and 400 plants m-² with a distance of 20 cm between rows. Data were analyzed using a combined analysis. No significant differences were found for the effects of density on traits including seed number per spike, spike length, harvest index, 1000-seed weight and mucilage percentage, while there were significant differences for the spike number m-1, seed yield, and mucilage yield at 1% probability level. According to the results, the location effect was significant on spike number m-1, seed and mucilage yield (1% probability level), and harvest index (5% probability level). The interactions between plant density and location on spike number per square meter and seed and mucilage yield per hectare were significant at 1% probability level, while no significant differences were found for the other traits. The seed and mucilage yield increased with increasing plant density, so that the seed and mucilage yield at a density of 400 plants m-1 in the Chalaki station were 2. 3 and 2. 9 times and in the Maraveh-Tapeh station were 1. 94 and 1. 86 times more compared to 100 plants m-1, respectively. Seed and mucilage yield in Chalaky station were 1. 71 and 1. 69 times more compared to Maraveh-Tapeh station, respectively. Our results clearly showed superiority for all traits measured at a density of 400 plants m-1 in the Chalaky station as compared with other densities in both locations.
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