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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Crop Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #324027

Title: Effects of soil applications of micro-nutrients and chelating agent citric acid on mineral nutrients in soybean seeds

Author
item GOLI, MUDLAGIRI - Mississippi Valley State University
item PANDE, MANJU - Mississippi Valley State University
item Bellaloui, Nacer
item DE WRACHIEN, DANIELE - State University Of Milano

Submitted to: Agricultural Sciences
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/23/2015
Publication Date: 11/27/2015
Citation: Goli, M.B., Pande, M., Bellaloui, N., De Wrachien, D. 2015. Effects of soil applications of micro-nutrients and chelating agent citric acid on mineral nutrients in soybean seeds. Agricultural Sciences. 6:1404-1411.

Interpretive Summary: Micronutrients are essential for crop growth, development, yield, and seed quality. Soil deficiency in micronutrients leads to yield loss and poor seed quality in crops. Soil and/or foliar application of micronutrients with and without chelating agents are used to correct micro nutrient deficiency. The objective of the current research was to investigate the effects of soil micronutrient application with and without chelating agent citric acid on seed mineral nutrition in soybean, maturity group V. A greenhouse experiment was conducted at Mississippi State University, MS, to evaluate the accumulation of minerals in soybean seed as affected by the soil application. The results showed that applications of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), molybdenum (Mo), and boron (B) resulted in an increase of Cu, Zn, Mo and B concentrations in leaves by 26.5, 13.8, 179, and 113%, respectively. Also, the application of Cu, Zn, Mo, and B resulted in an increase in seed Cu, Zn, Mo, and B concentrations by 55.5, 8.2, 98.0, and 28.6%, with respective treatments. Application of Cu, Zn, Mo, B and CA increased also macro-nutrients K, N, P concentrations. Combination of Mo application with citric acid at vegetative stage (V3 stage) resulted in higher concentrations of Mo in leaves, but no effects were observed when the application was done at pod-filling stage. The current research showed that some micro-nutrients application with the chelating agent increased seed accumulation in seeds, altering seed composition. Since these results were conducted under greenhouse experiments, further research under field conditions is needed before conclusive recommendations are made. This information is important for fertilizer management and seed mineral nutrition in soybean.

Technical Abstract: Micro-nutrients deficiency in soil result in crop yield loss and poor seed quality. Correcting this deficiency is normally conducted by foliar or soil application. The objective of this research was to determine the effects of soil applications of five micro-nutrients (Mn, Cu, Zn, Mo, and B) with a chelating agent citric acid (CA) on soybean leaf and seed nutrients when plants were applied at the three unrolled fully developed trifoliolate leaves (V3 stage) and pod initiation stage (R3) stage. Source of micronutrient compounds were MnCl2, CuCl2, ZnCl2, MoO3, and H3BO3. Our hypothesis was that micro- and macro- nutrients may be transported to leaves and then seeds at different rates. They may interact symbiotically or competitively during the uptake process. A greenhouse experiment was conducted at Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, Mississippi, MS, USA, and soybean cultivar Bolivar (maturity group V) was applied with micro-nutrients-chelating agent citric acid at V3 and R3 (pod initiation) stage. The results showed that application of Cu, Zn, Mo and B resulted in an increase of Cu, Zn, Mo and B concentrations in the leaves by 26.5, 13.8, 179, and 113%, respectively. Also, the application of Cu, Zn, Mo, and B resulted in an increase in seed Cu, Zn, Mo, and B concentrations by 55.5, 8.2, 98.0, and 28.6%, with respective treatments. Application of Cu, Zn, Mo, B and CA increased macro-nutrients K, N, P, Mg, and S. Irrespective of the applications, the nutrient increase trend in seed was, Na>Fe>Zn>Mn>B>Cu>Mo. However, Mo application resulted in the following seed nutrient accumulation pattern: Na>Mo>Fe>Zn>Mn>B>Cu. This may suggest that Mo had higher mobility to seeds than other micro-nutrients. Combination of soil application of Mo with CA (Mo+CA) increased Mo in leaves at V3 stage; however, Mo+CA soil application during pod-filling stage had no significant effects on Mo accumulation in seeds. The current research showed that some micro-nutrients application with the chelating agent CA can increase seed nutrients, altering seed mineral nutrition. Since these results were conducted under greenhouse experiments, further research under field conditions is needed before conclusive recommendations are made.