EVALUATION OF SOURCE AND METHOD OF ZINC APPLICATION ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.)
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Date
2018
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Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University
Abstract
A field experiment entitled “Evaluation of source and method of zinc application on growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.)” was conducted at Agricultural college farm, Bapatla, during kharif, 2017. The experimental soil was neutral in reaction, non-saline, low in organic carbon, available N, available P2O5, medium in available K2O, sufficient in Fe, Mn and Cu whereas, deficient in zinc.
The treatments comprised of T1 – RDF (200 kg N: 60 kg P2O5 ha-1: 50 kg K2O ha-1); T2 - T1 + seed priming with 2% ZnSO4 solution; T3- T1 + soil application of 50 kg ZnSO4 ha-1; T4- T1+ foliar application of 0.2% ZnSO4 ; T5- T1 + soil application of chelated zinc @ 10 kg ha-1; T6- T1 + seed priming with 2 % ZnSO4 solution + soil application of ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1; T7- T1 + seed priming with 2 % ZnSO4 solution + foliar application of 0.2% ZnSO4; T8- T1+ seed priming with 2 % ZnSO4 solution + soil application of chelated zinc @ 10 kg ha-1. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with eight treatments replicated thrice. Recommended dose of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were applied in the form of urea, single super phosphate and muriate of potash, respectively. Phosphorus was applied two days before sowing, 1/3rd dose of nitrogen and full dose of potash were applied equally on the day of sowing to all the plots.
The findings of the experiment revealed that the soil physico - chemical (pH, EC, OC, CEC and PBS) and chemical properties (N, P2O5, K2O, Fe, Cu and Mn) were not markedly influenced at tasseling and harvest stage of maize by the imposed treatments. However application of zinc significantly influenced zinc status of the soil at tasseling and harvest stages.
The growth parameters such as plant height and drymatter accumulation measured at different growth stages were significantly influenced by different source and method of application of zinc. Significant improvement in plant height and dry matter accumulation at harvest were recorded with imposed treatments and T7 (RDF + seed priming with 2 % ZnSO4 solution + foliar application of 0.2% ZnSO4) recorded significantly superior over recommended dose of fertilizers (T1).
All the yield attributes like cob length, number of kernels per cob and test weight were recorded maximum with RDF + seed priming with 2 % ZnSO4 solution + foliar application of 0.2% ZnSO4 (T7). While kernel and stover yield were significantly superior with T7, followed by T6 (RDF + seed priming with 2 % ZnSO4 solution + soil application of ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1) and T8 (RDF + seed priming with 2 % ZnSO4 solution + soil application of chelated Zn @ 10 kg ha-1). Lowest was recorded with T1 (RDF).
The N, P, K, Fe, Mn and Cu contents in plant was not significantly influenced among the imposed treatments. Significant increase in nutrient (N, P, K Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu) uptake was recorded with combined seed priming and foliar application of zinc sulphate (T7) when compared to T1 (RDF).
The protein content was not significantly influenced with the imposed treatments although highest protein content was recorded with T4 (T1 + foliar application of 0.2% ZnSO4) followed by T3 (RDF+ soil application of ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1) and lowest was recorded with T2 (RDF+ seed priming @ 2% ZnSO4).
Among the different treatments, the highest gross, net returns and benefit cost ratio was registered with RDF + seed priming with 2 % ZnSO4 solution + foliar application of 0.2% ZnSO4 (T7) followed by RDF + seed priming with 2 % ZnSO4 solution + soil application of ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1(T6) while minimum was recorded with T1 (RDF)
From the present investigation, it can be concluded that under sandy loam soils, RDF + seed priming with 2 % ZnSO4 solution + foliar application of 0.2% ZnSO4 (T7) performed better in giving maximum yield, nutrient uptake, net returns and returns per rupee investment (B:C) followed by RDF + Seed priming with 2 % ZnSO4 solution + soil application of ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1(T6). These combined methods (seed priming + foliar, seed priming + soil application) proved significantly superior over foliar and soil applications alone in obtaining good growth and yield of maize.
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D5660
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