AGRONOMIC APPROACH FOR FORTIFICATION OF SWEET CORN (Zea mays L.) WITH ZINC AND IRON
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Date
2018
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Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University
Abstract
A field experiment entitled “AGRONOMIC APPROACH FOR
FORTIFICATION OF SWEET CORN (Zea mays L.) WITH ZINC AND
IRON” was carried out during kharif, 2017 on sandy loam soils of wetland
farm of S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati campus of Acharya N.G. Ranga
Agricultural University.
The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with ten
treatments and replicated thrice. The treatments consisted of RDF alone
(180-60-50 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1) (T1), RDF + soil application of ZnSO4
@ 50 kg ha-1 (Basal) (T2), RDF + soil application of FeSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1
(Basal) (T3), RDF + soil application of ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1 + FeSO4 @ 25
kg ha-1) (Basal) (T4), RDF + 0.5% foliar application of ZnSO4 at booting
(T5), RDF + 0.5% foliar application of ZnSO4 at booting and silking (T6),
RDF + 0.2% foliar application of FeSO4 at booting (T7), RDF + 0.2% foliar
application of FeSO4 at booting and silking (T8), RDF + 0.5% foliar
application of ZnSO4 + 0.2% FeSO4 at booting (T9), RDF + 0.5% foliar
application of ZnSO4 + 0.2% FeSO4 at booting and silking (T10). The sweet
corn variety (sugar – 75) was tested in the present experiment.
Growth parameters like plant height, leaf area index and dry matter
production and yield parameters like number of cobs plant-1, cob length, cob
girth, number of seed rows cob-1, number of seeds row-1 and cob weight
were higher with 0.5% foliar application of ZnSO4 + 0.2% FeSO4 at booting
and silking along with RDF (N, P2O5 and K2O 180:60:50 kg ha-1) (T10).
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Significantly higher green cob and green fodder yield of sweet corn
were recorded with foliar application of 0.5% ZnSO4 + 0.2% FeSO4 at
booting and silking along with RDF (T10) compared to rest of the treatments.
Higher gross and net returns as well as benefit-cost ratio were
obtained with foliar application of 0.5% ZnSO4 + 0.2% FeSO4 at booting
and silking with along with RDF (T10).
Application of recommended dose of fertilizer (N, P2O5 and K2O
180:60:50 kg ha-1) (T1), recorded significantly higher protein content over
the rest of treatment tried. Higher zinc and iron content in the seed was
registered with foliar application 0.5% of ZnSO4 + 0.2% FeSO4 at booting
and silking along with RDF (N, P2O5 and K2O 180:60:50 kg ha-1) (T10).
Soil application of FeSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1 + RDF (N, P2O5 and K2O
180:60:50 kg ha-1) (T3), recorded the highest post-harvest soil available
nitrogen. Higher post- harvest soil available phosphorus and potassium
status were recorded with Soil application of FeSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1 soil
applications of ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1 + RDF (N, P2O5 and K2O 180:60:50 kg
ha-1) (T2).
Post-harvest soil available zinc was maximum with soil application of
ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1 + FeSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1 along with RDF (N, P2O5 and K2O
180:60:50 kg ha-1) (T4). The higher Post-harvest soil available iron was
registered with of soil application of FeSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1 along with RDF
(T3), which was on par with 0.2% foliar application of FeSO4 at booting and
silking along with RDF (T8) and 0.2% foliar application of FeSO4 at booting
along with RDF (T8).
In conclusion, the present study revealed that productivity and quality
of sweet corn was increased with foliar application of 0.5% ZnSO4 + 0.2%
FeSO4 at booting and silking along with RDF (N, P2O5 and K2O 180:60:50
kg ha-1). The same nutritional management strategy also realized maximum
economic returns, apart from enhanced quality.
Description
D5694
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