Enhancing Wheat Growth and Yield through Foliar Application of Zinc in Combination with Methionine, Histidine and Citric Acid as Chelators
Sudershan Mishra *
Department of Agricultural Botany, GMV PG College, Rampur Maniharan, Affiliated to Maa Shakumbhari University, Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, 247451, India.
Km. Anjali
Department of Agriculture, College of Applied Sciences, J.B. Institute of Technology, Chakrata Road, Shankarpur, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248197, India.
Megha Panwar
Department of Agriculture, Doon (P.G) College of Agriculture Science and Technology, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248197, India.
Prachi Saini
Department of Plant Physiology, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, 263145, India.
Sudhir K Guru
Department of Plant Physiology, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, 263145, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a crucial global food source, necessitating enhanced production to meet increasing demand. This study, conducted at GBPUA&T, Pantnagar, US Nagar, India, explores the impact of foliar-applied zinc (Zn) combined with chelators—methionine, histidine, and citric acid—on the growth and yield of wheat cultivar PBW343. Eight treatment combinations involving two Zn levels (1135 ppm and 1702.5 ppm) and three chelators were tested at three growth stages (30, 45, and 60 days after emergence). Results indicated that Zn application significantly increased flag leaf dimensions, total aboveground dry matter, grain yield, biological yield, thousand seed weight, and harvest index. Higher Zn concentration (1702.5 ppm) with methionine chelator yielded the maximum increases: flag leaf length and width increased by 6.2% and 5.7%, respectively; total dry matter increased by 1.6% and 2.6% at maximum tillering and flowering stages, respectively; grain yield and biological yield rose by 11.3% and 10.3% over control, respectively. The study underscores the efficacy of combining Zn with methionine to enhance Zn uptake, boost enzymatic activity, and improve overall wheat productivity. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing nutrient management practices to ensure sustainable wheat production.
Keywords: Foliar application, nutrient cycling, biostimulants, zinc chelators, sustainability