Role of Nickel Element for Atmospheric Nitrogen Fixation under Pots Conditions in Egypt

Abstract

Now, there is unprecedented interest in process of non-biological atmospheric nitrogen fixation for plants. So, an exploratory pot experiment was executed during the winter season of 2021/22 at the Farm of Agric. Fac., Mans. Univ., Egypt aiming at answering the question of does nickel element play a role in atmospheric nitrogen fixation. Under alluvial and sandy conditions, the effect of nickel element at different rates i.e., 0.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg L-1 on the performance and chemical constituents in the straw of wheat plants after 14 days only from sowing were studied, where Ni was added as soil addition after 7 days from sowing in a single application. The findings showed that all studied Ni rates significantly affected all studied parameters of wheat plants grown on both alluvial and sandy soils, where the highest values of fresh and dry weights as well as N, P, K content in straw (%) were recorded when wheat plants were treated with Ni at rate of 10.0 mg L-1, while the lowest values of all aforementioned traits were recorded with wheat plants grown without Ni addition. Generally, it can be noticed that the values of all aforementioned traits increased as the rate of Ni increased.The same trend was found under both studied soils taking into consideration that the values of all aforementioned traits for plants grown on sandy soil were less than that for plants grown on alluvial soil. Generally, from obtained results, it can be concluded that the nickel element may have a hidden role in N fixation and there is a need for other research in future to confirm this.