Nickel Supplementation for Enhanced Soybean Growth: A Micrometric-to-Nanometric Investigation of Biological Nitrogen Fixation and Metabolism
Jessica Bezerra de Oliveira·José Lavres·Fernanda Viginotti Alves·Bruna Wurr Rodak·Nikolas Souza Mateus·Nandhara Angélica Carvalho [UNESP] Mendes·Josué M. Gonçalves·Koiti Araki·Hudson Wallace Pereira de Carvalho·André Rodrigues dos Reis·Fernando Shintate Galindo·Antony van der Ent
Nickel (Ni) plays a central role in plant nitrogen (N) metabolism, yet the long-term physiological impact of nanostructured Ni fertilizers on soybean (Glycine max L.) remains insufficiently characterized. This study assessed the effects of Ni seed treatment and foliar application, using macro-, micro-, and nanosized Ni sources, on soybean cv. “IPRO Flecha” N metabolism and biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) throughout the crop life cycle. Ni was applied as seed coating (45 mg Ni kg–1 seed) and/o