Abstract
Among the essential micronutrients, zinc (Zn) affects vital functions in crop plants. The influences of foliar nourishing with certain Zn-containing forms on the growth, productivity, and physiology of carrot plants (cv. Fire wedge F1) and their nutritional contents when grown in Zn-deficient soil were examined in both 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 field trials. Two doses of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs(1) = 20 and ZnO-NPs(2) = 40 mg L−1), zinc–EDTA (Zn–EDTA(1) = 1 and Zn–EDTA(2) = 2 g L−1), or bulk zinc oxide (ZnO-B(1) = 200 and ZnO-B(2) = 400 mg L−1) were applied three times. The data outputted indicated, in general, that ZnO-NPs(2) were the best treatment that conferred more acceptable plant growth (measured as shoot length and fresh and dry weights), physiology (measured as cell membrane stability index, SPAD readings, and nutrient uptake), and nutritional homeostasis (e.g., P, Ca, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu contents). All these positive attributes were reflected in the highest yield, which was measured as fresh weight, dry matter, length, diameter, volume, and total yield of carrot roots. However, there were some exceptions, including the highest membrane stability index in both seasons, the highest Cu uptake and Mn content in the first season, and root fresh weight in both seasons obtained with ZnO-NPs(1). Moreover, the maximum P uptake and root dry matter were obtained with ZnO-B(1) and the highest content of root P was obtained by ZnO-B(2). Based on the above data, foliar nourishing with ZnO-NPs(2) can be recommended for the sustainability of carrot cultivation in Zn-deficient soils.
Highlights
Most developing countries depend on agriculture as their main source of food and other essential uses
Shoot length (ShL), shoot fresh weight (SFrW), and shoot dry matter (SDrM) of carrot plants were appreciably influenced by the maximum dose (40 mg L−1) of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs(2)), which produced incremental increases and the highest values of the above-mentioned growth parameters; the lowest values were produced by the untreated plants (Table 4)
This study was planned to address the problem of Zn deficiency in Zn-deficient soils by treating carrot plants using a foliar spray strategy with different forms of Zn such as ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs), Zn–EDTA, and ZnO-B in an attempt to identify which one of these Zn forms could be a solution for the successful adaptation of plants to coexist with the problem of Zn deficiency in defective soils
Summary
Most developing countries depend on agriculture as their main source of food and other essential uses. The excessive growth of the world’s population, which is expected to approach 10 billion by 2050, requires an increase in agricultural productivity by at least 50% to face the problem of steadily increasing population and achieving food security [1]. In this context, among food crops, carrot (Daucus carota L.), as the most economically important vegetable crop for exportation and local consumption in Egypt in recent years, may contribute to food security. Since Zn is highly recommended for all root vegetable crops, its deficiency greatly affects the yield of carrot and represents a widespread health risk influencing a large population in developing countries [5,6]
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