Effect of foliar spray of zinc sulphate and iron sulphate on yield, quality and nutrient uptake of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in Vertisols

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at farmer’s field in Yattingudda village (Dharwad district) to study theBiofortification of zinc sulphate and iron sulphate though foliar spray on yield, quality and nutrient uptake of chickpea(Cicer arietinum L.) in Vertisol during rabi 2020. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block design(RCBD) with nine treatments and three replications combination with different levels of zinc sulphate and iron sulphate.The results revealed that, among the different treatments, foliar spray of ZnSO4. 7H2O and FeSO4.7H2O @ 0.5% at the timeof pre flowering, flowering and pod setting along with recommended package of practices recorded the significantly highernumber of pods plant-1 (37.62), pod weight per plant (11.89 g plant-1), 100 seed weight (23.96g), seed yield (18.21 q ha-1)and haulm yield (25.14 q ha-1). This treatment also recorded significantly higher crude protein content (24.12 per cent), zinccontent (41.12 mg kg-1), iron content (134.25 mg kg-1) and also higher uptake of nitrogen (90.39 kg ha-1), phosphorus(11.03 kg ha-1), potassium (48.89 kg ha-1), sulphur (11.94kg ha-1) zinc (146.38 g ha-1) and iron (449.16 g ha-1).