Effects of nickel fertilization on soybean growth in tropical soils

Abstract

Although nickel (Ni) is recognized as plant nutrient since the turn of the 21 st century, uncertainty remains about its optimum application rates and forms. This paper focuses on Ni application in soils, relating to its effect as a plant micronutrient. Specifically, the effect of Ni on the activity of urease in soybean plants is examined.The effects of applying four Ni rates in two different soil types were tested. A full factorial 2 × 4 blocked design experiment was established under controlled conditions. Ni rates (0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mg of Ni·kg -1 of soil) were applied in two soils with contrasting clay contents. The addition of Ni increased the urease activity in soybean plants but was affected by soil textural differences. The highest urease activity was achieved by the application of 1.0 mg·kg -1 Ni in the sandy soil. The absorption of Ni by the plants and its availability was found to be soil texture dependent. The rate of 0.25 mg·kg -1 Ni increased the soybean dry matter production by 25% in the sandy soil. In conclusion, Ni was effective in promoting plant growth and biomass accumulation although depending on soil clay proportion. For soybean, there was no correlation between urease activity and biomass accumulation.The results of this study indicate a clear Ni effect in different type of soils in São Paulo state, serving as a solid initial doses indicator for soybean fertilization programs and future studies on nickel in Soybean.

A study on nickel application methods for optimizing soybean growth

“…Compared with the seed and leaf application methods, studies on soil Ni fertilization are more advanced, with a range of growing environments, soil classes and soybean genotypes having been evaluated previously (Table 3 ). It has been reported in the literature that this method improves N metabolism in soybean plants 18 , 19 , 32 , 37 , 53 , 54 , 57 , as found in this study (Figs. 1 b,d, 3 and 4 ).…”

“…1 a,c). This response can be explained by the dynamics of Ni in the soil; properties such as pH 37 , 53 , 55 , soil particle size 54 and organic matter 56 , 58 , which affect its availability to plants; and, consequently, the response to fertilization. The soil in edaphoclimatic environment 2, which was a sandier soil (Table 1 ), had a coarse grain size and was slightly reactive; therefore, it may have favored the mobility of Ni in the profile, possibly causing its loss by leaching 59 .…”

​Micronutrients: Role in Plants, their Spatial Deficiency and Management in Indian Soils: A Review

“…Nickel is an important component of urease enzyme and it participates in the plant anti-oxidant metabolism (Fabiano et al 2015). Levy et al 2019 reported that there is significant correlation between Nickel supply and plant growth and biomass accumulation in soybean; however, it depends on the texture of the soil. Supplying 10 ppm Ni has reported Micronutrients: Role in Plants, their Spatial Deficiency and Management in Indian Soils significantly higher number of branches and plant height in Tagetes minuta as compared to control (Ch and et al 2015).…”