A New Approach in Agronomic Biofortification for Improving Zinc and Iron Content in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Grain with Simultaneous Foliar Application of Zinc Sulphate, Ferrous Sulphate and Urea

Abstract

The investigation was undertaken with the aim of studying the effect of individual and tank mix applications of zinc sulphate (ZnSO4), ferrous sulphate (FeSO4) and urea on zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) biofortification of chickpea. A field experiment was conducted in 2015–2016 and 2016–2017 with treatments comprising individual and tank mix applications of ZnSO4 (0.5%), FeSO4 (0.5%) and urea (2%) at flowering and pod formation stages along with control (no nutrient application). Tank mix foliar application of ZnSO4 (0.5%) + FeSO4 (0.5%) + urea (2%) resulted in similar Zn (44.01 and 43.01 mg Zn kg−1 grain in the first and second year of study) and Fe (71.08 and 73.91 mg Fe kg−1 grain) content as in case of individual application of these nutrients (45.08 and 45.00 mg Zn kg−1 and 71.41 and 74.16 mg Fe kg−1 grain) thus showing a positive impact over unsprayed control (25.08 and 25.53 mg Zn kg−1 and 47.58 and 48.66 mg Fe kg−1 grain). Addition of urea (2%) helped in further improvement of Zn and Fe contents over ZnSO4 (0.5%) + FeSO4 (0.5%) spray only. Both tank mix application and individual application of these nutrients recorded significantly higher grain yield and protein content over sole application and control. Tank mix application of ZnSO4 (0.5%), FeSO4 (0.5%) and urea (2%) at flowering and pod formation stages of chickpea is a new method of biofortification which improves Zn and Fe contents and needs a special attention for improving malnutrition in humans.