Enhancing Wheat Growth and Yield through Foliar Application of Zinc in Combination with Methionine, Histidine and Citric Acid as Chelators

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a crucial global food source, necessitating enhanced production to meet increasing demand. This study, conducted at GBPUA&T, Pantnagar, US Nagar, India, explores the impact of foliar-applied zinc (Zn) combined with chelators—methionine, histidine, and citric acid—on the growth and yield of wheat cultivar PBW343. Eight treatment combinations involving two Zn levels (1135 ppm and 1702.5 ppm) and three chelators were tested at three growth stages (30, 45, and 60 days after emergence). Results indicated that Zn application significantly increased flag leaf dimensions, total aboveground dry matter, grain yield, biological yield, thousand seed weight, and harvest index. Higher Zn concentration (1702.5 ppm) with methionine chelator yielded the maximum increases: flag leaf length and width increased by 6.2% and 5.7%, respectively; total dry matter increased by 1.6% and 2.6% at maximum tillering and flowering stages, respectively; grain yield and biological yield rose by 11.3% and 10.3% over control, respectively. The study underscores the efficacy of combining Zn with methionine to enhance Zn uptake, boost enzymatic activity, and improve overall wheat productivity. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing nutrient management practices to ensure sustainable wheat production.