Studies on Boron Status in Some Selected Maize Growing Vertisols of Dharwad District and Response of Maize (Zea mays L.) to Boron Application
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Date
2016-06
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University of Agricultural Science, Dharwad
Abstract
An investigation was carried out to study the boron status in some selected maize growing Vertisols of Dharwad district (Zone 8 & 3). Fifty surface soil samples (0-30 cm) were collected from Dharwad district. Soils were neutral to alkaline in reaction (6.72 to 8.68), non-saline (0.53 dS m-1), low to medium (2.75 to 8.16 g kg-1) in organic carbon, moderately to strongly calcareous (5.50 to 15.75 %), low in available nitrogen (100.80 to 208.30 kg ha-1), medium to high in available phosphorus (22.50 to 61.74 kg ha-1) and sulphur (26.56 to 47.33 kg ha-1), high in available potassium (403.80 to 612.63 kg ha-1). HWSB varied from 0.34 to 1.16 mg kg-1 in soils of Zone 8 and 3.
A field experiment was also conducted to study the response of maize to boron application in a Vertisol during kharif 2015. Experiment consisted of nine treatments and three replications. Treatments consisted of soil application of solubor @ 2.5 and 5.0 kg ha-1 foliar application of solubor @ 0.25 and 0.5 per cent and their combinations. The results showed that, soil application of solubor @ 2.5 kg ha-1 at 35 DAS and foliar application of solubor @ 0.5 per cent at tasselimg (T7) recorded highest plant height (158.53 cm), number of leaves plant-1 (14.34), chlorophyll content (45.87), leaf area (412.45 cm2 plant-1), dry matter production (109.93 g plant-1) at tasseling. The same treatment recorded higher grain and stover yield (85.33 and 123.83 q ha-1), crude protein (9.08 %) and reducing sugar (0.33 %). Highest uptake of nitrogen (224.78 kg ha-1), phosphorus (73.21 kg ha-1), potassium (189.93 kg ha-1), sulphur (43.28 kg ha-1) and boron (3372.62g ha-1) was also noticed in T7. Based on yield, net returns and B: C ratio, the treatment T7 which received soil application of solubor @ 2.5 kg ha-1 and foliar application of solubor @ 0.5 per cent was beneficial to maize crop.