Influence of Zn nutrition on the productivity, grain quality and grain biofortification of wheat under conventional and conservation rice–wheat cropping systems

Faisal Nadeem, Muhammad Farooq*, Aman Ullah, Abdul Rehman, Ahmad Nawaz, Muhammad Naveed

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate influence of zinc (Zn) application on productivity, grain biofortification and grain quality of wheat planted under plough tillage (PT) and zero tillage (ZT) systems. Zn was delivered as soil application (10 kg ha−1), foliage spray (0.025 M) and seed priming (0.5 M) in wheat planted under PT and ZT systems. ZT had higher total soil porosity, total soil organic matter, soil organic carbon and soil microbial biomass carbon than PT. Zn application, by either method, improved grain yield, grain Zn and grain quality in both tillage systems. The grain Zn concentration was 72% and 59% higher with soil-applied Zn in ZT wheat during 2016–2017 and 2017–2018, respectively, compared with no Zn. However, Zn seed priming was the most effective in improving wheat grain yield in both tillage systems. Foliage and Zn soil application were better in improving the indices of Zn use efficiency of Zn. In conclusion, Zn seed priming was the most effective method in improving the wheat grain yield, whereas soil Zn application in ZT and foliar applications in PT were the most effective for grain Zn biofortification. However, Zn soil application was the most cost-effective method of Zn application.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1042-1057
Number of pages16
JournalArchives of Agronomy and Soil Science
Volume66
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2 2020

Keywords

  • conservation agriculture
  • Economics
  • grain biofortification
  • grain quality
  • seed priming
  • soil health

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Agronomy and Crop Science
  • Soil Science

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