Bio-fortification of Two Wheat Cultivars with Iron and Zinc Through Their Soil and Foliar Application in Salt-Factored Soil: Growth, Ionic, Physiological, and Biochemical Modifications

Salinity is among major environmental constraints in arid and semi-arid regions of the world that is deteriorating soil fertility and reducing uptake of micronutrients especially Fe and Zn. The crop plants grown in calcareous and high pH soils are inherently low in these mineral nutrients. Wheat ( Triticum aestivum L . ) is the principal diet for almost one third of world’s population. The information regarding the fortification of wheat with Fe and Zn under saline conditions is limited. The soil and foliar application of Fe and Zn may be helpful for improving the nutritional quality of wheat produced from salt-affected land. The aim of present study was to assess the responses of selected wheat cultivars (Faisalabad-2008 and Galaxy-2013) to soil and foliar application of Fe and Zn under saline conditions. Foliar and soil application of Fe and Zn was done individually as well as in combination. The experimental units were replicated thrice in Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The data of various wheat growth, ionic and biochemical parameters including grain yield, total chlorophyll contents, root and shoot length, root and shoot dry weights, Zn, Fe, K, and Na, SOD and CAT enzyme activity were recorded using standard procedures. It was clearly depicted by the results that the presence of salt stress in the growth medium significantly (p ≤ 0.05) deteriorated plant growth and yield. Also, the results showed that Zn and Fe application significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased wheat plant growth under salt stress. The foliar application proved to be more efficient than soil application. However, the plants that contained combined application (soil and foliar) of Fe and Zn gave maximum yield as well as higher accumulation of Fe, Zn, and K in shoot and grains. It was, therefore, concluded that the combined soil and foliar application of Fe and Zn is an effective strategy to ameliorate micronutrients (Fe and Zn) deficiency in crops grown under salt-affected soil conditions.