Application of Zn-containing foliar fertilisers for recovery of the grain productivity potential of Zn-deficient maize plants

Abstract

Highlights - The application of foliar fertilisers is extremely suitable as the possibility of much faster zinc absorption than from the soil. - Zn-fertilisation of maize plants during the initial growth stages plays a decisive role in the formation of the reproductive organs of maize. - Foliar zinc fertilisers can entirely recover the physiological performance of plants grown under conditions of zinc deficiency.
 
 Maize is one of the most sensitive industrial crops of zinc supply. Questions about fertilisation methods and the type of fertilisers used are the subject of serious scientific discussion. The key objective of this paper was to evaluate the possibilities to recover the yielding potential of Zn-deficient young maize plants by application of nanosized Zn-containing foliar fertilisers. The agronomic response of Zn-deficient maize plants to foliar fertilisation with nanoscale zinc-containing foliar fertilisers was investigated. The study was conducted in two stages: (i) planting and growing the plants under controlled conditions in a zinc-deficient environment for three months and (ii) moving the plants and continuing the experiment in field conditions. A single spray with two nanosized zinc-containing foliar fertilisers was carried out. The physiological status of the plants and the dynamic of zinc and micro- and macroelements concentration in plant organs were monitored. The influence of foliar zinc fertilisation on yield and grain structural components has been determined. Our results indicated that zinc fertilisation throughout the initial growth stages plays a decisive role in the formation of the reproductive organs of maize plants. Foliar zinc fertilisers can entirely recover the physiological performance of plants grown under conditions of zinc deficiency.

Integrated foliar application of potassium with soil applied nitrogen and phosphorus improves productivity of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

“…Potassium also plays a key role in nitrogen metabolism (Xu et a., 2020) and thus improves nitrogen use efficiency. co-application of phosphorus with nitrogen (Ivanov et al, 2021) and phosphorus with potassium is proved to offer higher yield than their individual use in chickpea (Ali et al, 2010;Tembhare et al, 2022). Expensive potassium fertilizers are the primary reason for avoiding potassium application in pulses.…”

“…Foliar application of potassium is thus suggested to improve growth, physiology and productivity of crops (Ali et al, 2016;Irshad et al, 2022). The foliar applied nutrients are ready absorbed by the foliage and translocated than soil applied ones and improves effectiveness of applied fertilizer (Ivanov et al, 2021) Thus foliar feeding of potassium is economical more feasible than soil application. Keeping in view the above challenges, a study was planned to test the hypothesis that soil application of nitrogen and phosphorus with foliar potassium will improve productivity of chickpea.…”

Effect of Zinc Foliar Fertilization Alone and Combined with Trehalose on Maize (Zea mays L.) Growth under the Drought

“…Zinc deficiencies often occur on alkaline soils, light sandy soils, or soils with relatively high levels of available phosphorus [8]. Maize (Zea mays L.) is known as a crop with high zinc requirements compared to other micronutrients [9], with optimum levels of zinc in maize tissue ranging from 20 to 60 mg/kg [10]. Foliar application of zinc can be used as a supplement to maize nutrition, especially in situations where soil properties may reduce the bioavailability of Zn to plants.…”

Response of Maize to Different Application Methods and Rates of Fulvic Acid and Zn under Soil Affected by Salinity Conditions

“…The establishment of the reproductive organs of maize plants is influenced by Zn fertilizing during the early stages of growth. Foliar zinc fertilisers can completely restore the physiological efficiency of plants that have been deficient in zinc shortage (Ivanov et al, 2021;Rahouma et al, 2021). The nitrogen at 150 kg/ha + Zn at 15 kg/ha yields the highest grain number/ear, grain number/row, 100-grain weight, stover, and biological yields/ha, followed by the nitrogen at 150 kg/ha + Zn at 15 kg/ha yields the highest grain number/ear, grain number/row, test weight, grain, stover, and biological yields/ha.…”