Effect of Ni and N sources on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and nutrient uptake

Nitrogen is the most extensively limiting plant nutrient in crop production. A majority of soils in the world are mineral soils and nitrogen deficiency in mineral soils is widespread. Nickel is an essential micronutrient for normal plant growth and development and part of several biological functions. Ni being a vital element contribute significant role in nitrogen assimilation as well as helps plants against numerous biotic and abiotic stresses. Keeping these facts in view a field experiment was conducted in Rabi Season of 2018-19at the research plot of Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, Udai Pratap (Autonomous) College, Varanasi. The experiment was carried out in Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) with three replications. Treatment includes two nitrogen levels (0 and 120 kg ha-1) with three nitrogen sources viz; N120UR (Urea), N120AS (ammonium sulphate), N120CAN (calcium ammonium nitrate) and four nickel levels 0, 1, 2 and 4 kg ha-1 (Ni0, Ni1, Ni2 and Ni4). Ni was applied in the form of NiCl2.H2O as per the requirement of treatment as basal dose. Important growth parameters (plant height and number of tillers) at different growth stages, dry matter yield (grain and straw) and nutrient uptake were determined. Results revealed that nitrogen and nickel supply significantly affected all the parameters under study when compared with no supply of nitrogen and nickel. The nitrogen application through urea registered the highest growth parameters, dry matter yield as well as nutrient content and their uptake by grain and straw of wheat as compared to ammonium sulphate and calcium ammonium nitrate. The nickel application @ 2 kg ha-1 recorded significantly maximum increase in all growth attributes as well as yield attributes. The interaction effect was found to be significant. Due to interaction effect maximum plant height, number of tillers and dry matter yield were recorded with the treatment N120URNi2, followed by N120AS Ni2 and N120CANNi2. Whereas, maximum nitrogen and nickel contents and their respective uptake were recorded with N120URNi4.