Assessment of different fertilization sources for improving zinc bioavailability in wheat under saline conditions

Abstract

In modern agriculture, soil salinity stress has been extensively studied by researchers owing to its disastrous impacts on soil and plant health. Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient. Crucial role of Zn in regulating plant growth under salinity stress has been well documented. Current research consisted of two studies, first study was aimed at comparing three organic (i.e. sugarcane filter cake, farmyard manure and poultry manure) and inorganic sources (i.e. zinc oxide, zinc sulphate and zinc nitrate) of Zn for improving Zn uptake by salt tolerant wheat varieties in a pot trial. Whereas, in second experiment the effect of zinc sulfate (ZnSO4; inorganic) alone and in combination with sugarcane filter cake (SFC; organic) was evaluated in sustaining wheat growth under naturally salt affected soil. Results from pot trial suggested that among different organic sources, SFC application significantly enhanced the plant height (12.52%), spike length (9.07%) and number of fertile tillers (25%), whereas, application of ZnSO4 among the inorganic sources resulted in notable enhancements in plant height (7%), number of fertile tillers (24%), and spike length (8%) compared to their corresponding treatments. In addition, wheat variety Sehar-2006 proved to be the most efficient wheat variety under salinized conditions. Whereas the findings of the field trial revealed ZnSO4 application @ 24 kg ha-1 in combination with SFC 1 % w/w improved the plant height (2%), grain yield (81%), K+/Na+ ratio (1.4 fold), catalase (8%) and peroxidase (3%) activities.