Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Early Access

Effect of different concentrations of soil and foliar applied zinc, boron and iron fertilizers on seedling growth, chlorophyll content and productivity of chickpea seedlings under semi-arid environment

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.3025
Submitted
17 October 2023
Published
08-10-2024
Versions

Abstract

The effectiveness of zinc (Zn), boron (B), and iron (Fe) is reduced in semi-arid regions, which can lead to a deficiency of these nutrients and inhibit chickpea productivity. In this work, three field experiments were executed over two years where soil and foliar applications of Zn, B, and Fe were carried out, including controls (Zn0, B0, and F0), soil application at 4.125 kg/ha (Zn-1, B1, and F1) and 8.25 kg/ha (Zn-2, B2, and F2), and foliar spay at 0.3% at flowering initiating (Zn-3, B3, and F3) and one week after flowering initiation (Zn-4, B4, and F4, respectively). The results indicate that the deficiency of these nutrients inhibited chickpea growth and yield, leading to a reduction in the pigment contents. Nonetheless, soil and foliar application of Zn, B, and Fe significantly improved growth, chlorophyll contents, and yield, showing a dose-dependent effect. The best results were recorded for Zn-3, B2, and F2 treatments which significantly (P<0.05) increased shoot length (20.96-85.19%), root length (42.85-93.65%), shoot fresh (23-76%) and root fresh weight (45-90.32%), compared with the control treatment. Chlorophyll parameters, including chlorophyll a and b contents, showed similar trends. Zn-3, B2, and F2 treatments significantly increased biological and grain yields, which were associated with higher values of the number of pods per plant and the number of seeds per pod. In a nutshell, we suggest that Zn foliar application at 0.3% at flowering initiation and soil application of B and Fe at 25 kg/ha are beneficial for improving the growth, pigment content, and overall productivity of chickpea.

References

  1. Mekouar MA. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Yearbook of International Environmental Law. 2017;pp. 506-20. https://doi.org/10.1093/yiel/yvy073
  2. Jan M, Anwar-Ul-Haq M, Javed T, Hussain S, Ahmad I, Sumrah MA, et al. Response of contrasting rice genotypes to zinc sources under saline conditions. Phyton-Int J Exp Bot. 2023;92(5):1361-75. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2023.026620
  3. Khan MI, Afzal MJ, Bashir S, Naveed M, Anum S, Cheema SA, et al. Improving nutrient uptake, growth, yield and protein content in chickpea by the co-addition of phosphorus fertilizers, organic manures and Bacillus sp. Mn-54. Agronomy. 2021;11(3):p.436. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11030436
  4. Gunes A, Pilbeam DJ, Inal A, Bagci EG, Coban S. Influence of silicon on antioxidant mechanisms and lipid peroxidation in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars under drought stress. Journal of Plant Interactions. 2007;2(2):105-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/17429140701529399
  5. Salehi S, Rokhzadi A, Abdolahi A, Mohammadi K, Nourmohammadi G. Effect of soil tillage systems on chickpea yield and moisture of soil. Bioscience Biotechnology Research Communications. 2017;10(3):404-09. http://doi.org/10.21786/bbrc/10.3/11
  6. Merga B, Haji J. Economic importance of chickpea: Production, value and world trade. Cogent Food and Agriculture. 2019;5(1):p.1615718. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2019.1615718
  7. Wood JA, Grusak MA. Nutritional value of chickpea. In: Chickpea breeding and management. Wallingford UK: CABI. 2019; p. 101-42. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2019.1615718
  8. Choudhary AK, Sultana R, Vales MI, Saxena KB, Kumar RR, Ratnakumar P. Integrated physiological and molecular approaches to improvement of abiotic stress tolerance in two pulse crops of the semi-arid tropics. The Crop Journal. 2018;6(2):99-114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cj.2017.11.002
  9. Sarwar M. Exploration on resource of resistance in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes to gram pod borer Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) (Lepidoptera). African Journal of Agricultural Research. 2013;8(26):3431-35. http://www.academicjournals.org/AJAR
  10. Rehman B, Hussain S, Zulfiqar A. Zinc sulfate biofortification enhances physio-biochemical attributes and oxidative stress tolerance in rice varieties grown in zinc deficient alkaline soil. South African Journal of Botany. 2023;162:271-81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2023.09.023.
  11. Borkakati K, Takkar PN. Forms of boron in acid alluvial and lateritic soils in relation to ecosystem and rainfall distribution. In: Proceedings of International Conference on Managing Resources for Sustainable Agricultural Production in the 21st Century. Better Crops. 2nd ed. 2000;p. 127-28.
  12. Alloway BJ. Micronutrient deficiencies in global crop production. Springer Science and Business Media; 2008. https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Micronutrient_Deficiencies_in_Global_Cro/_55yK0hj67IC?hl=en&gbpv=0&kptab=getbook
  13. Laik R, Singh SK, Pramanick B, Kumari V, Nath D, Dessoky ES, et al. Improved method of boron fertilization in rice (Oryza sativa L.)– Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) cropping system in upland calcareous soils. Sustainability. 2021;13(9):5037. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13095037
  14. Zafar M, Ahmed S, Munir MK, Zafar N, Saqib M, Sarwar MA, et al. Application of zinc, iron and boron enhances productivity and grain biofortification of mungbean. Phyton-Int J Exp Bot. 2023;92(4):983-99. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2023.025813.
  15. Wimmer MA, Lochnit G, Bassil E, Mühling KH, Goldbach HE. Membrane-associated, boron-interacting proteins isolated by boronate affinity chromatography. Plant and Cell Physiology. 2009;50(7):1292-304. https://doi.org/10.1093/pcp/pcp073
  16. Stangoulis JC, Brown PH, Bellaloui N, Reid RJ, Graham RD. The efficiency of boron utilisation in Canola. Functional Plant Biology. 2001;28(11):1109-14. https://doi.org/10.1071/PP00164
  17. Goldbach HE, Wimmer MA. Boron in plants and animals: is there a role beyond cell-wall structure? Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science. 2007;170(1):39-48. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.200625161
  18. Camacho-Cristóbal JJ, Rexach J, González-Fontes A. Boron in plants: Deficiency and toxicity. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology. 2008;50(10):1247-55. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7909.2008.00742.x
  19. Hussan MU, Saleem MF, Hafeez MB, Khan S, Hussain S, Ahmad N, et al. Impact of soil applied humic acid, zinc and boron supplementation on the growth, yield and zinc translocation in wheat. Asian J Agric Biol. 2022;2022(1):202102080. https://doi.org/10.35495/ajab.2021.02.080
  20. Raj AB, Raj SK. Zinc and boron nutrition in pulses: A review. Journal of Applied and Natural Science. 2019;11(3):673-79. https://doi.org/10.31018/jans.v11i3.2157
  21. Jangir LK, Kumari Y, Kumar A, Kumar M, Awasthi K. Investigation of luminescence and structural properties of ZnO nanoparticles, synthesized with different precursors. Materials Chemistry Frontiers. 2017;1(7):1413-21. https://doi.org/10.1039/C7QM00058H
  22. Gupta NK, Ghaffari Y, Kim S, Bae J, Kim KS, Saifuddin M. Photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants over MFe2O4 (M= Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) nanoparticles at neutral pH. Scientific Reports. 2020;10(1):p.4942. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-61930-2
  23. Hussain S, Hafeez MB, Azam R, et al. Deciphering the role of phytohormones and osmolytes in plant tolerance against salt stress: Implications, possible cross-talk, and prospects. Journal of Plant Growth Regulations. 2024;43:38-59. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-023-11070-4
  24. Hussain I, Ayub A, Nayab A, Shah Z, Ullah M, Ahmad S, et al. Exogenous application of silicon and zinc attenuates drought tolerance in Eruca sativa L. through increasing chlorophyll pigments, osmoprotectants and modulating defense mechanisms. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation. 2023;42:2055-71. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-023-11116-7
  25. Cakmak I. Enrichment of fertilizers with zinc: An excellent investment for humanity and crop production in India. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. 2009;23(4):281-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtemb.2009.05.002
  26. De Valença AW, Bake A, Brouwer ID, Giller KE. Agronomic biofortification of crops to fight hidden hunger in sub-Saharan Africa. Global Food Security. 2017;12:8-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2016.12.001
  27. Sarakhsi HS, Yarnia M, Amirniya R. Effect of nitrogen foliar application in different concentration and growth stage of corn (Hybrid 704). Advances in Environmental Biology. 2010;291-99. http://www.aensi.org/aeb.html
  28. Kandil EE, Lamlom SF, Gheith E-SMS, et al. Biofortification of maize growth, productivity and quality using nano-silver, silicon and zinc particles with different irrigation intervals. The Journal of Agricultural Science. 2023;161(3):339-55. http://doi:10.1017/S0021859623000345.
  29. Ahmad N, Virk AL, Hussain S, et al. Integrated application of plant bioregulator and micronutrients improves crop physiology, productivity and grain biofortification of delayed sown wheat. Environ Sci Pollut Res. 2022;29:52534-43. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-19476-5
  30. Hosseini SM, Maftoun M, Karimian N, Ronaghi A, Emam Y. Effect of zinc × boron interaction on plant growth and tissue nutrient concentration of corn. Journal of Plant Nutrition. 2007;30(5):773-81. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904160701289974
  31. Zayed A, Serag A, Farag MA. Cynara cardunculus L.: Outgoing and potential trends of phytochemical, industrial, nutritive and medicinal merits. Journal of Functional Foods. 2020;69:p.103937. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2020.103937
  32. Soomro AF, Tunio S, Oad FC, Rajper I. Integrated effect of inorganic and organic fertilizers on the yield and quality of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.). Pakistan Journal of Boatny. 2013;45(4):1339-48. https://pakjbot@pakbs.org
  33. Rashid A. Mapping zinc fertility of soils using indicator plants and soil analyses (Doctoral dissertation); 1986. https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/6e5db6b7-bbdd-4c3a-8571-6dc59e125ed3/content
  34. Estefan G, Sommer R, Ryan J. Methods of soil, plant and water analysis. A Manual for the West Asia and North Africa region. 2013;65-119. https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/7512
  35. Pratt P, Chapman H. Gains and losses of mineral elements in an irrigated soil during a 20-year lysimeter investigation. Hilgardia. 1961;30(16):445-67. https://doi.org/10.3733/hilg.v30n16p445
  36. Bingham FT. Boron. In: Methods of Soil Analysis: Part 2 Chemical and Microbiological Properties. 1983;9:431-47. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronmonogr9.2.2ed.c25
  37. Steels L. The synthetic modeling of language origins. Evolution of Communication. 1997;1(1):1-34. https://doi.org/10.1075/eoc.1.1.02ste
  38. Acharya U, Venkatesan K, Saraswathi T, Subramanian KS. Effect of zinc and boron application on growth and yield parameters of multiplier onion (Allium cepa L. var aggregatum Don.) var. CO (On) 5. International Journal of Research. 2015;2(1):757-65. https://worldveg.tind.io/record/54418/
  39. Singh LB, Yadav R, Abraham T. Studies on the effect of Zinc levels and methods of boron application on growth, yield and protein content of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Bulletin of Environment, Pharmacology and Life Sciences. 2015;4(2):108-13. http://www.bepls.com
  40. Oikonomou A, Ladikou EV, Chatziperou G, Margaritopoulou T, Landi M, Sotiropoulos T, et al. Boron excess imbalances root/shoot allometry, photosynthetic and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and sugar metabolism in apple plants. Agronomy. 2019;9(11):p.731. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9110731
  41. Mehboob N, Yasir TA, Hussain M. Foliage applied boron along with boron-tolerant bacteria (Bacillus sp. MN54) ensures better nodulation, growth, grain yield and grains-B biofortification of chickpea. Journal of Plant Nutrition. 2023;46(9):1933-45. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2022.2105715
  42. Wang Y, Shi L, Cao X, Xu F. Plant boron nutrition and boron fertilization in China. Advances in Plant and Animal Boron Nutrition. 2007;3-101. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5382-5
  43. Xu W, Wang P, Yuan L, Chen X, Hu X. Effects of application methods of boron on tomato growth, fruit quality and flavor. Horticulturae. 2021;7(8):p.223. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7080223
  44. Khuong NQ, Thuc LV, Tran NTB, Huu TN, Sakagami JI. Foliar application of boron positively affects the growth, yield and oil content of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.). Open Agriculture. 2022;7(1):30-38. https://doi.org/10.1515/opag-2022-0067
  45. Ullaha A, Romdhaneb L, Rehmanc A, Farooq M. Adequate zinc nutrition improves the tolerance against drought and heat stresses in chickpea. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. 2019;143:11-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2019.08.020
  46. Ullah A, Farooq M, Hussain M, Ahmad R, Wakeel A. Zinc seed priming improves stand establishment, zinc uptake and early seedling growth of chickpea. Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences. 2019;29:1046-53. https://thejaps.org.pk/docs/v-29-04/17.pdf
  47. Ullah A, Farooq M, Nadeem F, Rehman A, Hussain M, Nawaz A, Naveed M. Zinc application in combination with zinc solubilizing Enterobacter sp. MN17 improved productivity, profitability, zinc efficiency and quality of desi chickpea. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition. 2020;20(4):2133-44. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-020-00281-3
  48. Hao B, Ma J, Jiang L, Wang X, Bai Y, Zhou C, et al. Effects of foliar application of micronutrients on concentration and bioavailability of zinc and iron in wheat landraces and cultivars. Scientific Reports. 2021;11(1):p.22782. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-02088-3
  49. Martínez-Cuenca MR, Forner-Giner MÁ, Iglesias DJ, Primo-Millo E, Legaz F. Strategy I responses to Fe-deficiency of two Citrus rootstocks differing in their tolerance to iron chlorosis. Scientia Horticulturae. 2013;153:56-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2013.01.009
  50. Meggio F, Zarco-Tejada PJ, Núñez LC, Sepulcre-Cantó G, González MR, Martín P. Grape quality assessment in vineyards affected by iron deficiency chlorosis using narrow-band physiological remote sensing indices. Remote Sensing of Environment. 2010;114(9):1968-86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2010.04.004

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.