Effect of zinc application methods on yield attributes, yield and nutrient uptake in wheat (Triticum aestivum) varieties under sodic soil

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) season 200810 at Chandeswar, Azamgarh, on a zinc (Zn)-deficient and salt affected soil, to elucidate the most effective and economical method of Zn application for wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) emend. Fiori & Paol.] yield improvement in partially reclaimed sodic soils of east- ern Uttar Pradesh. Eighteen treatments comprised 6 methods of Zn application, viz. control (no Zn), seed soaking with 0.5% ZnSO .7H O aqueous, seed soaking with 1.0% ZnSO . 7H O (ZnSHH) aqueous, 20 and 30 kg/ha 4 2 4 2 ZnSHH (basal) and foliar spray of 5 kg/ha ZnSHH with 2% urea in 1,000 litres water at 25 and 50 days after sow- ing (2 sprays), and 3 wheat varieties, viz. NW 1012, PBW 343 and Malviya 468 were tested in factorial random- ized block design with 3 replication. All the Zn application methods, increased the plant height, tillers/plant, grains/ spike, spike length, test weight, grain yield, straw yield and nutrient uptake over the control (no Zn). Foliar spray of Zn sulphate (5 kg/ha hepta hydrate) resulted in 26% higher grain yield than the control. Overall performance of NW 1012 variety of wheat showed superiority to Malviya 468 and PBW 343. Variety NW 1012 gave 6.0 and 3.8% higher grain yield over Malviya 468 and PBW 343, respectively. Foliar spray of 5 kg/ha ZnSHH with 2% urea in 1,000 litres water at 25 and 50 days after sowing was most economical. These foliar zinc application on wheat crop recorded 21.54 103/ha net returns along with 1.33 benefit: cost ratio.