$Pb(Zr_{0.525} Ti_{0.475})O_3$ piezoelectric ceramics both unmodified and doped with NiO were prepared by the conventional oxide techniques using sintering temperature from 900 to to 125$0^{circ}C$. The difference in densification process between unmodified and NiO doped PZT ceramics was studied by shrinkage vs. firing temperatures and it was caused by increasing defect concentration in calcining process of NiO doped PZT ceramics. And nickel oxide solubility limit for $Pb(Zr_{0.525} Ti_{0.475})O_3$ ceramics is shown to be at the range from 0.2wt% to 0.5wt% from this defect model micro-structures dielectric and piezolectric properties of Nio doped PZT ceramics.