Abstract
Worldwide, the dietary deficiency of zinc (Zn) is prevailing in almost all arid and semi-arid regions. Zinc deficiency is not only the major constraint of lower yield, but also dietary Zn deficiency in cereals grains may cause increasing malnutrition and chronic health problems in human. Exogenous application of Zn through basal soil nutrition might be a useful option to recover Zn deficiency in mung bean. Therefore, field study was conducted to optimize the optimum level and method of Zn nutrition to enhance crop yield and Zn biofortification of mung bean through basal application. Zinc was applied at 0, 5, 10 and 15 kg/ha as basal application and side dressing, and in combination (50% basal application + 50% side dressing). The results highlighted that Zn nutrition prominently improved the mung bean yield as compared with control (no Zn applied). The maximum grains yield and Zn concentration in grains were obtained where Zn was applied at 15 kg/ha as basal application as compared with all other combinations. Better improvement in grain yield was due to significant increase in more number of pods and grain size owing to welldeveloped root system, improved leaf area index and high chlorophyll contents in mung beans leaves. Amongst all applied Zn nutrition’s the basal application of Zn (15 kg/ha) was a viable option to get higher yield and Zn biofortification of mung bean.
Highlights
Micronutrients deficiency in arable soils is main issue for poor crop growth and yield
The interactive effect of applied Zn levels and application methods had significant effect on entire yield related traits of mung bean. Growth related attributes such as leaf area index, chlorophyll contents, plant height, number of roots, grains yield, and biological yield were regularly increased with life cycle of crop; Zn application levels improved all these parameters as compared with control
Obtained data highlighted that Zn applied methods, doses and their interaction prominently influenced the total leaf area index (LAI) of mung bean after 15, 30 and 45 days interval (Fig. 1(A))
Summary
Micronutrients deficiency in arable soils is main issue for poor crop growth and yield. Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) is the main conventional pulses crop with relatively higher protein contents [3] and considered as “poor man’s meat” due to three times more protein contents in comparison to cereals. It has ~50% more carbohydrates contents along with substantial amount of phosphorus (367 mg/100 g of seed) and calcium (132 mg 100 g of seeds) as well [4]. It flourishes better in wet environment, can be seeded
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