Fertigation with Zn-Lysine Confers Better Photosynthetic Efficiency and Yield in Water Stressed Maize: Water Relations, Antioxidative Defense Mechanism and Nutrient Acquisition.

Faisal Shehzad,Fahad A Al-Misned,Qasim Ali,Saliha Maqbool,Shafaqat Ali

doi:10.3390/plants11030404

Abstract

Different strategies including the exogenous use of micronutrient-chelated amino acids are being employed for better crop yield with limited fresh water for irrigation. The present study was conducted to assess the effects of foliar-applied Zn-lysine (Zn-Lys) on maize growth and yield under limited irrigation, in relation to physio-biochemical mechanisms such as the plant–water relations, photosynthetic efficiency, antioxidant defense mechanism, amino acid accumulation and nutrient acquisition. The experiment comprised two maize cultivars (MMRI and Pearl), two irrigation levels and three levels of Zn-Lys (0.25, 0.5 and 0.75%). Zn-Lys fertigation was found to be effective in reducing the negative impacts of limited water supply on grain yield, associated with improved photosynthetic efficiency, water relations, antioxidative defense mechanism and reduced lipid peroxidation in both maize cultivars. Zn-Lys-induced improvement in antioxidative mechanisms was associated with improved content of non-enzymatic antioxidants and activities of antioxidant enzymes. Foliar-fertigation with Zn-Lys also significantly improved the contents of various amino acids including Lys, as well as uptake of nutrients in both maize cultivars. In conclusion, the 0.5% level of Zn-Lys was found to be effective in ameliorating the negative impacts of water stress for better grain yield in both maize cultivars that can also be used as an important environment-friendly source of Zn to fulfill maize Zn deficiency.

Highlights

Introduction iationsIn crop plants, limited fresh water for irrigation along with abrupt changes in the environment are major problems at present for obtaining better seed yields [1]
Pearl, regarding shoot fresh weight, all three levels of Zn-Lys were effective in ameliorating the negative impacts of water shortage
MMRI, the 0.25% level of Zn-Lys was found to be superior in comparison with other two levels

Summary

Introduction

In crop plants, limited fresh water for irrigation along with abrupt changes in the environment are major problems at present for obtaining better seed yields [1]. Water shortage reduces the bioavailability of nutrients in the rhizospher for uptake through roots due to a decrease in soil osmotic potential [5,6,7] This results in disturbed plant–water relations, plant photosynthetic efficiency and antioxidative defense mechanisms, leading to decreased growth and seed yield [6,7,8,9]. Under such conditions, the soil nutrient status is of prime importance [10]. Either macro- or micro-, play significant roles in obtaining better crop yields, especially

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