Impact of Nitrogen, Zinc and Humic Acid Application on Wheat Growth, Morphological Traits, Yield and Yield Components

Abstract

To investigate the response of wheat to different levels of nitrogen (N), zinc (Zn) and humic acid (HA), an experiment was conducted at Agronomy Research Farm, the University of Agriculture, Peshawar, during 2014-15. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design having three replications. Three levels of N (80, 120 and 160 kg ha-1), Zn (6, 12 and18 kg ha-1) and HA (5, 10 and 15 kg ha-1) were used. Results showed that N application at the rate of 160 kg ha-1 manifested maximum days to physiological maturity (164 days), productive tillers m-2 (248), spikes m-2 (258), leaf area tiller-1 (113.6 cm2), spike length (10.4 cm), grains spike-1 (52), 1000-grain weight (47.5 g), biological yield (9260 kg ha-1), grain yield (3723 kg ha-1) and harvest index (40%). Zn treated plots at the rate of 12 kg ha-1 showed maximum days to physiological maturity (162 days), productive tillers m-2 (241), spikes m-2 (252), grains spike-1 (51), 1000-grain weight (45.2 g), biological yield (8843 kg ha-1), grain yield (3375 kg ha-1) and harvest index (39 %). Similarly, HA treated plots at the rate of 12 kg ha-1 revealed maximum days to physiological maturity (162 days), productive tillers m-2 (238), spikes m-2(249), spike length (9.7 cm), 1000-grain weight (45.00 g), biological yield (8649 kg ha-1), grain yield (3342 kg ha-1) and harvest index (39%). The combined application of N, Zn, and HA had significantly affected wheat yield and yield components. It was concluded that N at the rate of 160 kg ha-1, Zn 12 kg ha-1 and HA 10 kg ha-1 significantly increased yield and yield components of wheat.

The Foliar Application of Nitrogen and Zinc Applied During Tillering and Booting Stage Enhanced the Growth and Production of Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.)

“…However, the plots where no foliar fertilization was applied remained lowest in spike length (7.0 cm). A recent study showed that 180 kg N, 18 kg Zn ha -1 combined with the application of 10 Kg humic acid gave a positive response in increasing the length of spikes of wheat crop (Iqbal et al, 2022). Farooqi et al, (2019) observed the highest 17.15 cm spike length when they treated their wheat crop with 8% N and 2% B foliar application.…”

“…The diminishing trend in wheat seed index was observed in rest of the treatments. However, the minimum seed index 38.0 g was observed in control treatment where no liquid N or Zn was applied Iqbal et al, (2022). conducted an experiment to evaluate the morphological traits, yield and yield components of wheat against numerous applications of nitrogen, zinc and humic acid.…”

Regulatory Mechanisms of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria and Plant Nutrition against Abiotic Stresses in Brassicaceae Family

“…Micronutrients (zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), boron (B), copper (Cu) and chlorine (Cl)) improve plant health, water use efficiency, biomass production and provide systemic response against abiotic stresses [ 217 , 218 , 219 ]. Whereas plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) promote plant growth and tolerance to abiotic stresses by adapting and altering certain mechanisms, the production of ACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate) deaminase reduces ethylene synthesis, as well as alters phytohormones and antioxidative enzymes synthesis, and improves nutrient uptake [ 115 , 220 ].…”

Long-term nitrogen fertilizer management for enhancing use efficiency and sustainable cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

“…N application level also significantly affected the yield composition factors ( Iqbal et al., 2022 ). One study showed that the number of bolls per unit area and the weight of a single boll of cotton decreased when the N application rate exceeded 280 kg/hm 2 on sandy loam ( Li et al., 2019 ).…”