From Waste to Wheat: The Impact of Recycled Manganese from Dry Cell Batteries on Water-Stressed Wheat Cultivation

Abstract

Abstract Micronutrient deficiencies in soils of India have been reported as a significant hindrance to crop productivity, particularly in the semi-arid regions. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of recycled liquid manganese (2.11% Mn) obtained from dry cell batteries on the growth and yield of wheat plants. Two application methods, foliar application and seed priming, were tested with varying concentrations. Under foliar application, three concentrations were used (0.5%, 0.75%, and 1%), while under seed priming, two concentrations were used (0.05M and 0.1M) combined with different foliar applications. The pot trials showed a significant increase in the yield of wheat with foliar application of manganese. The best results were obtained with 0.75% and 0.5% foliar application, showing early booting and a higher number of plants per 10 cm2. Germination rates were higher in the 0.05M concentration, which combined with 0.75% foliar application, showed the best results. Additionally, resistance to various soil-borne diseases was observed, and the tests were conducted under water stress conditions. Our findings suggest that recycled manganese from dry cell batteries can be an effective and sustainable solution to improve crop yield in regions with micronutrient-deficient soils.