Effect of Ni on Nitrogen Uptake and Yield of Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

The effect of Ni as an essential micronutrient on dry matter yield, N content and uptake by wheat was investigated. Field experiment adopting randomized block design with 6 treatments (including controls) and 4 replications was conducted for this purpose. Treatments were T₁ (Control-1 = no input), T₂ (control-2 = Recommended dose of NPK at 120:60:60 kg ha⁻¹), T₃ (NPK+Ni at 1 kg ha⁻¹), T₄ (NPK + Ni at 2 kg ha⁻¹), T₅ (NPK + Ni at 4 kg ha⁻¹) and T₆ (NPK+Ni at 5 kg ha⁻¹). The obtained results showed that the dry matter yield (at 45 days after sowing, straw and grain) was significantly increased by the application of Ni at 1 and 2 kg ha⁻¹ levels as compared to controls. At higher levels (4 and 5 kg Ni ha⁻¹) yield reduced as compared to lower levels but still was higher than that of controls. Similar trend was also observed with N content and uptake by the wheat.