Zn-DTPA-HEDTA-EDTA Application: a Strategy to Improve the Yield and Plant Quality of a Barley Crop While Reducing the N Application Rate

Abstract

Over-use of N fertilization has been common in order to obtain the highest possible grain yield. We investigated the efficiency of combining the application of N and ZnCHE (Zn-DTPA-HEDTA-EDTA). Different rates (30, 60, or 90 kg ha −1) and sources [pig slurry(PS) or urea] of N and rates of ZnCHE (0, 0.5, 1, or 1.5 kg ha −1) were applied to a barley crop. Nitrogen fertilization combined with soil Zn applications had a significant interaction on various plant parameters (grain protein concentration, yield, Zn uptake, and N uptake). An application rate of 90 kg N ha −1 seems recommendable to obtain high values for both crop yield and N uptake by the plant. PS application was associated with higher mean grain yield and Zn utilization than urea application, but with lower grain protein concentration. On the other hand, the lowest Zn application rate was sufficient to achieve a high grain yield (> 3200 kg ha −1). Higher Zn rates provided great Zn concentrations in the different parts of the plant. Furthermore, high grain protein concentrations (> 9.6%) were obtained with combinations of N60 or N90 and ZnCHE-1 or ZnCHE-1.5, both for PS and for urea. The application of this synthetic Zn chelate could be recommended as a strategy for reducing the N application rate but still obtaining high grain yield and nutritional value in barley. These effects may have been due not only to Zn application but also to the influence of chelating agents such as DTPA, HEDTA, and EDTA.

Both Zn biofortification and nutrient distribution pattern in cherry tomato plants are influenced by the application of ZnO nanofertilizer

“…Several authors have studied nutrient mobility within plants by calculating TFs ( Zhang et al., 2019 ). When TF is calculated as the ratio between the nutrient concentration in the shoot of the plant and nutrient concentration in the root of the plant, a high TF value indicates high nutrient mobility and the possibility of accumulating large amounts of nutrients in the aerial part of plants ( Alloway 2013 ; Almendros et al., 2019 ; Intawongse and Dean 2006 ).…”

“…Different authors have studied the effect on plant N concentration of the application of traditional Zn sources, such as ZnO, ZnSO 4 , Zn (NO 3 ) 2 , natural complexes (Zn-lignosulphonate, Zn-amino acids and Zn-gluconate) or synthetic Zn chelates as Zn-DTPA-HEDTA-EDTA to cereals ( Almendros et al., 2019 ; Gonzalez et al., 2019b ; Kutman et al., 2011 ). In general, the results of these studies showed positive responses in Zn and N concentrations in plants with increasing Zn application rate.…”

“… Kutman et al. (2011) reported that the positive interaction between N and Zn in cereals is due to improvements in root uptake and the translocation of Zn due to the presence of N. Likewise, Zn plays an indispensable role in protein synthesis and Zn deficiency impedes this process and affects the health and productivity of plants ( Almendros et al., 2019 ).…”

Zinc–nitrogen interaction effect on wheat biofortification and nutrient use efficiency

“…These results were in line with those reported by Almendros et al. (), who suggested that the application of N in the form of urea or pig manure resulted in an increase in barley grain Fe concentrations. The transfer of the Fe cation from the rhizosphere to the grain is dependent on several different proteins and could be enhanced by N fertilization ( Palmer and Guerinot , ).…”

Effect of traditional sources of Zn and ZnO-nano-particles foliar application on productivity and P-uptake of maize plants grown on sandy and clay loam soils

“…These chelates should be applied at low rates to lessen the costs of Zn fertilizerson one hand and avoid further environmental pollution risks on the other hand (Demetrio et al, 2016;Abbas and Abdelhafez, 2013). It may also decrease the needed amounts of N-fertilizers for grown plants (Almendros et al, 2019).…”