Under the conditions of a growing experiment, the authors studied the effect of presowing treatment of seeds with salicylic acid (SA) on the growth parameters and photosynthetic apparatus (PSA) of barley plants (Hordeum vulgare L.), which are in optimal conditions of mineral nutrition or with a lack of zinc in the root environment. It has been shown that zinc deficiency does not adversely affect PSA but causes inhibition of plant growth. Presowing treatment of seeds with SA (10 μM) had a stimulating effect on the intensity of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance, which ensured successful plant growth under conditions of zinc deficiency. At the same time, in plants grown from seeds treated with SA, the content of zinc in the roots and shoots was higher than in plants whose seeds were not treated. Based on the obtained results, a conclusion was made on the possibility and prospects of using presowing seed treatment with SA for growing barley plants under conditions of zinc deficiency in the root environment.