Biofortification of Zinc in Bajra (Pennisetum glaucum L.)
Loading...
Files
Date
2018-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad
Abstract
A field experiment to enhance the Zn concentration in bajra grains through soil application of Zn was carried out in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Main Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad during kharif 2017. The bajra variety ICMV-221 was used with nine treatments viz. ZnSO4.7H2O (basal application @ 5, 10, 15 and 20 kg ha-1) and Zn EDTA (basal application @ 5, 10, 15 and 20 kg ha-1) and one absolute control.
The result revealed that morphological parameters, viz. plant height, number of tillers, leaf area, flag leaf area, ear head length and girth and number of green leaves plant-1 were enhanced significantly by zinc treatments. Phenological traits, growth parameters viz. LAI and dry matter production and physiological traits viz. chlorophyll content, relative chlorophyll content (SPAD value), photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate also significantly differed among treatments. Zinc application @ 20 kg ha-1 significantly increased the N, K and Zn content in all plant parts of bajra. Whereas, P, Fe, Cu and Mn content decreased at higher doses of Zn treatments. With increase in Zn fertilizer doses, soil Zn status was improved.
Soil application of 20 kg ha-1 Zn EDTA was the best source of Zn compared to other treatments recording highest chlorophyll content of 2.12 and 2.79 mg g-1 fresh weight and photosynthetic rate of 26.76 and 38.96 µmol CO2 m-2 s-1 respectively at 30 and 60 DAS. The same treatment also enhanced the bajra grain yield by 27 per cent with 37 per cent increase in grain Zn content over control, recording the highest grain yield of 4,153 kg ha-1 and grain Zn content of 44.43 mg kg-1. Hence, soil application of 20 kg ha-1 Zn EDTA is beneficial for bajra crop.