Minerals and chelated-based manganese fertilization influences the productivity, uptake, and mobilization of manganese in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in sandy loam soils

Salwinder Singh Dhaliwal; Vivek Sharma; Arvind Kumar Shukla; Vibha Verma; Manmeet Kaur; Amnah Mohammed Alsuhaibani; Ahmed Gaber; Prabhjot Singh; Alison M Laing; Akbar Hossain

doi:10.3389/fpls.2023.1163528

Minerals and chelated-based manganese fertilization influences the productivity, uptake, and mobilization of manganese in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in sandy loam soils

Front Plant Sci. 2023 Jun 8:14:1163528. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1163528. eCollection 2023.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India.
² Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Indian Institute of Soil Science, Berasia Rd, Navi Bagh, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
³ Department of Chemistry, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India.
⁴ Department of Physical Sport Science, College of Education, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Agriculture & Food, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
⁷ Division of Soil Science, Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute, Dinajpur, Bangladesh.

Abstract

Manganese (Mn) is an essential micronutrient in plants, and it is necessary for hydrolysis in photosystem II, chlorophyll biosynthesis, and also chloroplast breakdown. Limited Mn availability in light soil resulted in interveinal chlorosis, poor root development, and the development of fewer tillers, particularly staple cereals including wheat, while foliar Mn fertilizers were found efficient in improving crop yield as well as Mn use efficiency. In the above context, a study was conducted in consecutive two wheat growing seasons for screening of the most effective and economical Mn treatment for improving the yield and Mn uptake in wheat and to compare the relative effectiveness of MnCO₃ against the recommended dose of MnSO₄ for wheat. To fulfill the aims of the study, three manganese products, namely, 1) manganese carbonate MnCO₃ (26% Mn w/w and 3.3% N w/w), 2) 0.5% MnSO₄·H₂O (30.5% Mn), and 3) Mn-EDTA solution (12% Mn), were used as experimental treatments. Treatments and their combinations were as follows: two levels of MnCO₃ (26% Mn) @ 750 and 1,250 ml ha^-1 were applied at the two stages (i.e., 25-30 and 35-40 days after sowing) of wheat, and three sprays each of 0.5% MnSO₄ (30.5% Mn) and Mn-EDTA (12% Mn) solution were applied in other plots. The 2-year study showed that Mn application significantly increased the plant height, productive tillers plant^-1, and 1,000 grain weight irrespective of fertilizer source. The results of MnSO₄ for grain yield wheat as well as uptake of Mn were statistically at par with both levels (750 and 1,250 ml ha^-1) of MnCO₃ with two sprays at two stages of wheat. However, the application of Mn in the form of 0.5% MnSO₄·H₂O (30.5% Mn) was found more economical than MnCO₃, while the mobilization efficiency index (1.56) was found maximum when Mn was applied in MnCO₃ with two sprays (750 and 1,250 ml ha^-1) in the two stages of wheat. Thus, the present study revealed that MnCO₃ can be used as an alternative to MnSO₄ to enhance the yield and Mn uptake of wheat.

Keywords: fertilizer; manganese; uptake; wheat; yield.

Grants and funding

The present research was funded by the Yara Vita Fertilizers Limited and ICAR—Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, 462038, Madhya Pradesh, India, with the support of the Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India. This work was partially funded by Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project number (PNURSP2023R65), Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.