Application of zinc and iron for higher productivity and agronomic use efciency of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) varieties

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during the winter season of 2017–18 and 2018–19 at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka to evaluate the effect of Zn and Fe on productivity and agronomic use efficiency of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). In this experiment, 2 varieties of chickpea were applied with Zn and Fe through foliage in the form of sulphates at different stages and also tested with the application to soil and via a seed treatment. Variety ‘GBM 2’ gave higher yield, Zn and Fe content in seed than ‘JG 11’. However, ‘JG 11’ was more efficient in using native Zn and Fe, as it had shown higher Zn and Fe agronomic efficiency under all the methods compared to ‘GBM 2’. Foliar application of Zn and Fe proved better method of application than soil application or seed treatment of Zn or individual application of Zn or Fe. Yield increase was 20.2 and 19.35% higher in foliar application of Zn and Fe over the control respectively, in 2017–18 and 2018–19. Foliar application of Zn with Fe recorded 22.29 and 11.30% higher Zn accumulation in seed over soil application of micronutrients in 2017–18 and 2018–19 respectively.