EFFECTS OF APPLICATION OF NANOPARTICULATE ZINC AND BORON ON GROWTH, YIELD AND NUTRIENT UPTAKE BY GROUNDNUT – SUNFLOWER CROPPING SYSTEM IN ALFISOLS
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Date
2022-08-12
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guntur
Abstract
The present investigation on “Effects of Application of Nanoparticulate Zinc and Boron on Growth, Yield and Nutrient Uptake by Groundnut – Sunflower Cropping System in Alfisols” was conducted at RARS, Tirupathi, during 2018 and 2019.
The nanoscale ZnO was prepared using oxalate decomposition technique, whereas nano boron was prepared using encapsulation method. The synthesized nanoscale ZnO and boron was characterized using the different techniques like UV-Vis, HR-TEM, XRD, FT-IR and DLS analysis. The synthesized nanoscale ZnO and boron was 37.2 and 53.6 nm in size with zeta potential of -37.7 mV and -28.3 mV, respectively.
Pot culture experiment was conducted as a pilot study to know the phytotoxicity of foliar applied nanoparticulate ZnO and boron on groundnut. After completion of phytotoxic studies, a field experiment was carried out with groundnut – sunflower cropping system during kharif and rabi seasons of 2019, respectively in the R.A.R.S. farm, Regional Agricultural Research station, Tirupati. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with fourteen treatments and replicated thrice. Foliar application of nano ZnO and nano boron were done at 45 DAS of groundnut and ray floret opening stage of sunflower. Soil application treatments are given only for groundnut and residual effect was seen in sunflower crop.
The results from the pot culture experiment revealed that application of 500 ppm nano ZnO (T5) produced taller plants with higher chlorophyll content and dry matter production of groundnut. Foliar application of 500 ppm nano ZnO (T5) showed significantly highest peroxidase, catalase and super oxide dismutase enzyme activities of groundnut measured at peg formation stage. Yield attributes of groundnut was
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found maximum with the foliar spray of 500 ppm nano ZnO (T5). Significantly highest pod and haulm yield of groundnut was recorded with foliar application of 500 ppm nano ZnO (T5) which was on par with 400 ppm nano ZnO (T4), 300 ppm nano ZnO (T3), 500 ppm nano boron (T10) and 400 ppm nano boron (T9). Oil and protein content of groundnut was not significantly affected. However, highest oil content and protein content of groundnut was noticed with 500 ppm nano ZnO (T5).
Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content at peg formation, pod development, pod and haulm of groundnut were significantly affected by foliar application of various concentrations of nanoparticulate zinc and boron. 500 ppm nano ZnO (T5) showed significantly highest nitrogen and potassium content whereas application of 500 ppm nano boron (T10) recorded highest phosphorus content of groundnut. Significantly highest zinc and boron content at all growth stages of groundnut was found with the foliar application of 500 ppm nano ZnO (T5) and 500 ppm nano boron (T10), respectively.
Macro and micronutrient uptake by groundnut was significantly influenced by foliar application of various concentrations of nanoparticulate zinc and boron. 500 ppm nano ZnO (T5) showed significantly highest nitrogen, potassium, zinc, iron, manganese and copper uptake by groundnut at peg formation, pod development, pod and haulm of groundnut whereas phosphorus and boron uptake was recorded maximum with foliar application of 500 ppm nano boron (T10).
A field experiment was conducted with the groundnut – sunflower cropping system. Results showed that RDF + foliar application of nano ZnO @ 200 ppm + nano boron @ 200 ppm (T14) recorded significantly highest plant height and dry matter production of groundnut and sunflower which was on par with RDF + foliar application of nano ZnO @ 150 ppm + nano boron @ 150 ppm (T13).
Yield parameters viz., number of pods plant-1 and number of filled pods plant-1 of groundnut were significantly highest with the RDF + foliar application of nano ZnO @ 200 ppm + nano boron @ 200 ppm (T14) however, 100 kernel weight was observed to be non significant. Whereas in succeeding sunflower, treatment T14 (RDF + foliar application of nano ZnO @ 200 ppm + nano boron @ 200 ppm) recorded significantly highest number of filled seeds per head and number of unfilled seeds per head. Head diameter and 1000 seed weight was found to be non significant.
Significantly highest pod, kernel, haulm yield of groundnut and seed, stover yield of sunflower was recorded with RDF + foliar application of nano ZnO @ 200 ppm and nano boron @ 200 ppm (T14) followed by RDF + foliar application of nano ZnO @ 150 ppm and nano boron @ 150 ppm (T13). Quality parameters of groundnut (oil and protein content) and sunflower (oil content) was found to be non significant due to foliar application of nanoparticulate zinc and boron. However, RDF + foliar application of nano ZnO @ 200 ppm + nano boron @ 200 ppm (T14) recorded higher quality parameters of both the crops.
Significantly highest nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, zinc and boron content at peg formation, pod development, pod and haulm of groundnut was recorded with RDF + foliar application of nano ZnO @ 200 ppm + nano boron @ 200 ppm (T14) followed by RDF + foliar application of nano ZnO @ 150 ppm + nano boron @ 150 ppm (T13). Whereas RDF + foliar application of nano ZnO @ 200 ppm + nano boron
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@ 200 ppm (T14) significantly enhanced the nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, zinc and boron content at vegetative, flowering, seed and stover of sunflower. Iron, manganese and copper content of both the crops were not significantly influenced by the foliar application of nanoparticulate zinc and boron.
Macro and micronutrient uptake by groundnut and sunflower was significantly influenced by foliar application of nanoparticulate zinc and boron. RDF + foliar application of nano ZnO @ 200 ppm + nano boron @ 200 ppm (T14) showed significantly highest nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, iron, manganese, copper and boron uptake at all stages of crop growth.
Soil physical (bulk density, porosity and water holding capacity) and physico-chemical (pH, electrical conductivity and organic carbon content) properties after harvest of groundnut and sunflower did not vary significantly due to treatment effect. There was significant in available N, P2O5, K2O, zinc and boron status in soil with soil application of ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1 + borax @ 10 kg ha-1 (T5) after the harvest of groundnut and sunflower and it was on par with RDF + Soil application of ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1 (T3) and RDF + Soil application of borax @ 10 kg ha-1 (T4). Non significant difference was recorded in available iron, copper and manganese content, microbial population and enzyme activities in soil at harvest of groundnut and sunflower crops.
The gross returns and net returns of groundnut and sunflower were higher in RDF + foliar application of nano ZnO @ 200 ppm + nano boron @ 200 ppm (T14). The B:C ratio of groundnut was found higher in RDF + foliar application of nano ZnO @ 150 ppm (T9) and RDF + foliar application of nano ZnO @ 200 ppm (T10) whereas in case of sunflower significant increase in benefit cost ratio was observed with RDF + foliar application of nano boron @ 200 ppm (T12). The poor growth, low productivity and a lesser amount of returns in groundnut and sunflower was as usual with the crop not received any fertilizers.
Based on the outcome of pot culture experiment, it was concluded that no phytotoxicity was observed in all the concentrations and nanoscale materials tested in the present study which indicates use of nanoscale materials for field studies in a safest manner to agricultural crops. The concentration of 500 ppm of nanoparticulate ZnO and boron was identified as optimum dose. The field experiment concluded that foliar application of nano ZnO and nano boron @ 150 and 200 ppm in combination or alone found to be best treatment for getting maximum yields with higher monetary returns for groundnut - sunflower cropping system.
Description
EFFECTS OF APPLICATION OF NANOPARTICULATE ZINC AND BORON ON GROWTH, YIELD AND NUTRIENT UPTAKE BY GROUNDNUT – SUNFLOWER CROPPING SYSTEM IN ALFISOLS