A Comparative Study of Soil and Foliar Nickel Application on Growth, Yield and Nutritional Quality of Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.) Grown in Inceptisol

Abstract

ABSTRACT Nickel (Ni) deficiency is common in intensively cultivated soils. As Ni is a costly input, thus, judicious use in agriculture is needed to address its deficiency economically. In view of deficiency of Ni, a field experiment was conducted to evaluate the responses for soil (SA), foliar (FA) and combination of these two methods of Ni application on growth, yield, nutritional quality and bio-chemical properties of soil using barley as a test crop. Foliar application of 0.2% NiSO4 significantly enhanced growth, yield, and nutrients concentration in grain as compared to SA. The highest grain and straw yield was in 5.0 kg SA Ni ha−1 + 0.2% FA of NiSO4 but it was statically at par with 0.2% FA of NiSO4. Application of 10 kg SA Ni ha−1 + 0.2% FA of NiSO4 resulted in a significant yield decrease. The maximum bacterial population was with 5 kg SA Ni ha−1, whereas actinomycetes population in 7.5 kg SA Ni ha−1. However, higher dose of Ni had a synergistic effect on the fungal population and urease enzyme activity. It was inferred that 0.2% FA of NiSO4 may be economically used over soil application to mitigate the deficiency of Ni in barley.