Abstract
Introduction Micronutrient deficiencies, particularly iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), are prevalent in a large part of the human population across the world, especially in children below 5 years of age and pregnant women in developing countries. Since wheat constitutes a significant proportion of the human diet, improving grain Fe and Zn content in wheat has become important in improving human health. Objective This study aimed to quantify the effect of foliar application of iron sulfate heptahydrate (FeSO 4 .7H 2 O) and zinc sulfate heptahydrate (ZnSO 4 .7H 2 O) and their combination on grain Fe and Zn concentrations, as well as grain protein content (GPC). The study also aimed to assess the utility of these applications in large field conditions. Methods To address this issue, field experiments were conducted using 10 wheat cultivars and applying a foliar spray of FeSO 4 .7H 2 O (0.25%) and ZnSO 4 .7H 2 O (0.50%) separately (@400 L of solution in water per hectare during each spray) and in combination at two different crop growth stages (flowering and milking) for three consecutive crop seasons (2017–2020). The study used a split-plot design with two replications to assess the impact of foliar application on GFeC, GZnC, and GPC. In addition, an experiment was also conducted to assess the effect of soil (basal) @ 25 kg/ha ZnSO 4 , foliar @ 2 kg/ha, ZnSO 4 .7H 2 O (0.50%), and the combination of basal + foliar application of ZnSO 4 on the grain micronutrient content of wheat cultivar WB 02 under large field conditions. Results GFeC increased by 5.1, 6.1, and 5.9% with foliar applications of FeSO 4 , ZnSO 4 , and their combination, respectively. GZnC increased by 5.2, 39.6, and 43.8% with foliar applications of FeSO 4 , ZnSO 4 , and their combination, respectively. DBW 173 recorded the highest increase in GZnC at 56.9% with the combined foliar application of FeSO 4 and ZnSO 4 , followed closely by HPBW 01 at 53.0% with the ZnSO 4 foliar application, compared to the control. The GPC increased by 6.8, 4.9, and 3.3% with foliar applications of FeSO 4 , ZnSO 4 , and their combination, respectively. Large-plot experiments also exhibited a significant positive effect of ZnSO 4 not only on grain Zn (40.3%, p ≤ 0.001) and protein content ( p ≤ 0.05) but also on grain yield ( p ≤ 0.05) and hectoliter weight ( p ≤ 0.01), indicating the suitability of the technology in large field conditions. Conclusion Cultivars exhibited a slight increase in GFeC with solitary foliar applications of FeSO 4 , ZnSO 4 , and their combination. In contrast, a significant increase in GZnC was observed with the foliar application of ZnSO 4 and the combined application of FeSO 4 and ZnSO 4 . In terms of GPC, the most significant enhancement occurred with the foliar application of FeSO 4 , followed by ZnSO 4 and their combination. Data demonstrated the significant effect of foliar application of ZnSO 4 on enhancing GZnC by 39.6%. Large plot experiments also exhibited an increase of 40.3% in GZnC through the foliar application of ZnSO 4 , indicating the effectiveness of the technology to be adopted in the farmer’s field.
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Claims 15
Claim · model-written summary
FeSO 4 foliar application increased wheat GFeC by 5.1.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“GFeC increased by 5.1, 6.1, and 5.9% with foliar applications of FeSO 4 , ZnSO 4 , and their combination, respectively”
t0“bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
ZnSO 4 foliar application increased wheat GFeC by 6.1.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“GFeC increased by 5.1, 6.1, and 5.9% with foliar applications of FeSO 4 , ZnSO 4 , and their combination, respectively”
t0“bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
their combination foliar application increased wheat GFeC by 5.9%.
- Taxon
- bread wheat
Triticum aestivumt0 - Treatment
- their combinatione0
- Outcome
- GFeCe0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 5.9%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“GFeC increased by 5.1, 6.1, and 5.9% with foliar applications of FeSO 4 , ZnSO 4 , and their combination, respectively”
t0“bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
FeSO 4 foliar application increased wheat GZnC by 5.2.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“GZnC increased by 5.2, 39.6, and 43.8% with foliar applications of FeSO 4 , ZnSO 4 , and their combination, respectively”
t0“bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
ZnSO 4 foliar application increased wheat GZnC by 39.6.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“GZnC increased by 5.2, 39.6, and 43.8% with foliar applications of FeSO 4 , ZnSO 4 , and their combination, respectively”
t0“bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
their combination foliar application increased wheat GZnC by 43.8%.
- Taxon
- bread wheatTriticum aestivumt0
- Treatment
- their combinatione0
- Outcome
- GZnCe0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 43.8%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“GZnC increased by 5.2, 39.6, and 43.8% with foliar applications of FeSO 4 , ZnSO 4 , and their combination, respectively”
t0“bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
FeSO 4 foliar application increased wheat GPC by 6.8.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The GPC increased by 6.8, 4.9, and 3.3% with foliar applications of FeSO 4 , ZnSO 4 , and their combination, respectively”
t0“bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
ZnSO 4 foliar application increased wheat GPC by 4.9.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The GPC increased by 6.8, 4.9, and 3.3% with foliar applications of FeSO 4 , ZnSO 4 , and their combination, respectively”
t0“bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
their combination foliar application increased wheat GPC by 3.3%.
- Taxon
- bread wheatTriticum aestivumt0
- Treatment
- their combinatione0
- Outcome
- GPCe0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 3.3%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The GPC increased by 6.8, 4.9, and 3.3% with foliar applications of FeSO 4 , ZnSO 4 , and their combination, respectively”
t0“bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
DBW 173 had the highest GZnC increase, 56.9%, under combined foliar application.
- Taxon
- bread wheatTriticum aestivumt0
- Material
- DBW 173e0
- Treatment
- combined foliar application of FeSO 4 and ZnSO 4e0
- Outcome
- GZnCe0
- Direction
- highest increasee0
- Value
- 56.9%e0
- Comparator
- the controle0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“DBW 173 recorded the highest increase in GZnC at 56.9% with the combined foliar application of FeSO 4 and ZnSO 4 , followed closely by HPBW 01 at 53.0% with the ZnSO 4 foliar application, compared to the control”
t0“bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
HPBW 01 showed a 53.0% GZnC increase under ZnSO 4 foliar application versus control.
- Taxon
- bread wheatTriticum aestivumt0
- Material
- HPBW 01e0
- Treatment
- ZnSO 4 foliar applicatione0
- Outcome
- GZnCe0
- Direction
- increasee0
- Value
- 53.0%e0
- Comparator
- the controle0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“DBW 173 recorded the highest increase in GZnC at 56.9% with the combined foliar application of FeSO 4 and ZnSO 4 , followed closely by HPBW 01 at 53.0% with the ZnSO 4 foliar application, compared to the control”
t0“bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Large-plot ZnSO 4 application improved wheat grain Zn by 40.3%.
- Taxon
- bread wheatTriticum aestivumt0
- Treatment
- ZnSO 4e0
- Outcome
- grain Zne0
- Direction
- positivee0
- Value
- 40.3%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Large-plot experiments also exhibited a significant positive effect of ZnSO 4 not only on grain Zn (40.3%, p ≤ 0.001) and protein content ( p ≤ 0.05) but also on grain yield ( p ≤ 0.05) and hectoliter weight ( p ≤ 0.01)”
t0“bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Large-plot ZnSO 4 application improved wheat protein content.
- Taxon
- bread wheatTriticum aestivumt0
- Treatment
- ZnSO 4e0
- Outcome
- protein contente0
- Direction
- positivee0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Large-plot experiments also exhibited a significant positive effect of ZnSO 4 not only on grain Zn (40.3%, p ≤ 0.001) and protein content ( p ≤ 0.05) but also on grain yield ( p ≤ 0.05) and hectoliter weight ( p ≤ 0.01)”
t0“bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Large-plot ZnSO 4 application improved wheat grain yield.
- Taxon
- bread wheatTriticum aestivumt0
- Treatment
- ZnSO 4e0
- Outcome
- grain yielde0
- Direction
- positivee0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Large-plot experiments also exhibited a significant positive effect of ZnSO 4 not only on grain Zn (40.3%, p ≤ 0.001) and protein content ( p ≤ 0.05) but also on grain yield ( p ≤ 0.05) and hectoliter weight ( p ≤ 0.01)”
t0“bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Large-plot ZnSO 4 application improved wheat hectoliter weight.
- Taxon
- bread wheatTriticum aestivumt0
- Treatment
- ZnSO 4e0
- Outcome
- hectoliter weighte0
- Direction
- positivee0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Large-plot experiments also exhibited a significant positive effect of ZnSO 4 not only on grain Zn (40.3%, p ≤ 0.001) and protein content ( p ≤ 0.05) but also on grain yield ( p ≤ 0.05) and hectoliter weight ( p ≤ 0.01)”
t0“bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)”
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