Balance nutrition using 4R nutrient stewardship (Right Dose, Right time, Right place, Right form) is proven technology for increasing yield in all the crop. But the actual mechanism involved in yield improvement is, increasing resistance of plants to biotic and abiotic stresses.
Nutrients like Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Silicon have major role plant stress alleviation through various mechanism.
Even excess application of N increase the susceptibility of plant to various stress. Thus balance nutrition not only have role in yield improvement. It also have role in stress alleviation.
Correction of nutrient deficiency, especially micro nutrients through foliar spray will helps the plants to increase resistance against various stresses.
Tolerance is genetic character. It can not be altered by mineral nutrition. Mineral nutrition only helps in increasing the resistance against various stresses.