Alleviation of salt stress and improvement of Fe accumulation in wheat grain, using slow-release fertilizer enriched with Fe

Low availability of iron (Fe) in calcareous and saline soils is one of the major causes of diminished production of crops such as wheat. This study investigated the effects of slow-release fertilizers enriched with Fe, on some qualitative and biochemical traits of new wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar, Narin, under salt stress. For this purpose, a greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate different levels of Fe fertilizer application including non-fertilizer application, ferrous sulfate at 10 and 20 mg kg−1, and super-absorbent fertilizer enriched with Fe equivalent 10 and 20 mg kg−1 ferrous sulfate on wheat plants under three levels of salt stress (0, 8, and 12 dS m−1). The fertilizer application improved chlorophyll a, total chlorophyll, soluble sugars, K+ concentration, grain Fe content, and 100-grain weight. The salinity increased proline and Na+ content in the leaves, causing a considerable decline in the total soluble carbohydrate, 100-grain weight, K+/Na+ ratio, and protein content of the leaves. The slow-release fertilizer enriched with Fe was more effective in enhancing the grain quality and salt stress tolerance than ferrous sulfate because of raising grain Fe content, soluble sugars, K+ concentration, and K+/Na+ ratio of the leaf. These results suggest that application of the proper type of iron-containing fertilizers, including slow-release fertilizers, and replacing them with common fertilizers would help wheat plants cope with salinity.