Boron, manganese and zinc reduce the hazardous impact of sodic-saline soil on growth and yield of pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Abstract

Salinity, particularly in the arid and semiarid regions, is considered the main limiting factor of productivity besides drought stress. The present study reports the outcomes of the foliar application of boron (B), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), or their interactions on growth, seed yield, and quality of pea (Pisum sativum L.cv. Master B) plants grown in sodic-saline soil. Two open field experiments were carried out during the winter season of 2015/2016 and 2016/2017. Salt-stressed plants spayed with B, Mn, Zn, or their combinations significantly showed a vigorous growth with higher dry seed yield. Upon receiving B + Mn + Zn, the plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, chlorophyll (SAPD), plant fresh weight, and shelling ratio increased by 43%, 39%, 22%, 9%, 18%, and 6%, respectively, in 2015/2016. Interestingly, the increase in dry seed yield, seed index, seed protein content, and germination percentage corresponded to the foliar application of B and its interactions, i.e., B + Mn, B + Zn, and B + Mn + Zn. However, the treatment of B + Mn + Zn resulted in the highest values of seed dry yield (ton/ha), seed index, protein content, and germination percentage recording an increase of 58%, 16%, 11%, and 7%, respectively, in 2015/2016. Our findings highlight the importance of the foliar application of micronutrients in sodic-saline soil to support plant growth and enhance crop productivity due to their imbalanced uptake.