Dry matter yield and nutrient accumulation in bean and soybean crops fertilized with nickel

Abstract

Nickel (Ni) plays an important role in enzyme activity, preventing the accumulation of urea in leaves, participating in biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), proving its essentiality. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of nickel applied to soil on grain productivity, dry mass, and nitrogen, copper, iron, manganese, zinc, and nickel accumulation by bean plants, as well as the residual effect of nickel on soybean. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, and the treatments consisted of five doses of Ni (0; 1; 2; 4 and 8 mg L−1), using the source of Ni sulfate (NiSO4.6H2O). Fertilization with Ni significantly increased Ni contents in soil after bean and soybean cultivation, Ni showing interaction with clay particles. The higher Ni doses reduced bean grain weight and the accumulated amounts of N (nitrogen), Ni, Cu (copper), Mn (manganese), Fe (iron), Zn (zinc) in the grains. DM production and nutrient accumulation in bean and soybean, cultivated on bean fertilization residual, were not affected by increasing Ni doses.