Ameliorative effect of zinc and vermicompost on physiological and yield attributes in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under arsenic toxicity

Abstract

The present study illustrates the phytotoxicity of arsenic (As) on wheat (HUW-234) seedlings and pre-application of zinc sulphate and vermicompost for mitigating toxic effects of As. Seedlings of HUW-234 genotype of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were raised in pot soil culture using eight treatment combinations viz., Control, Vermicompost @ 15 t.ha-1, ZnSO4.7H2O @ 20 ppm Zn, Vermicompost @ 15 t.ha-1+ ZnSO4.7H2O @ 20 ppm Zn, Na2HAsO4.7H2O @ 30 ppm As, Na2HAsO4.7H2O @ 30 ppm As + Vermicompost @ 15 t.ha-1, Na2HAsO4.7H2O @ 30 ppm As + ZnSO4.7H2O @ 20 ppm Zn and Na2HAsO4.7H2O @ 30 ppm As + Vermicompost @ 15 t.ha-1 + ZnSO4.7H2O @ 20 ppm Zn. Perusal of data indicated that arsenic @ 30 ppm treated pots showed decrease in plant height, leaf area and shoot dry matter as compared to pots with no arsenic treatment. Zinc @ 20 ppm and Vermicompost @ 15 t.ha-1 alone resulted in increase in plant height, leaf area and shoot dry matter. The highest plant height, leaf area and shoot dry matter in arsenic treated pots were found in treatment supplemented with Zinc @ 20 ppm and Vermicompost @ 15 t.ha-1, whereas, least of above parameters were recorded in pots without zinc and vermicompost supplementation.