Zinc-Sulphate and Zn-EDTA Enhances Zn and Other Nutrients and Yield and Quality of Table-Purpose Peanut Cultivars

Abstract

ABSTRACT Zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) deficiencies in humans are major problems worldwide, which necessitate their increase in food crops. Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), which is a good nutritional source of Zn and Fe, is used as a table-purpose food item worldwide, but is mostly grown under poor-fertility soils, resulting in low Zn concentrations in the edible seed. In a 2-year field study, the influence of zinc sulfate and Zn-EDTA, at 2 kg Zn ha−1, was studied in 20 confectionery peanut cultivars where both of these Zn sources increased yield attributes, 100-seed weight, and Zn, P, and K concentrations in seed. The respective mean concentrations of Zn, P, and K in the seed were 43 mg kg−1 and 0.61% and 0.75% in control which increased to 50 mg kg−1 and 0.62% and 0.76%, with the application of zinc sulfate and 46 mg kg−1 and 0.63% and 0.82%, respectively, with the application of Zn-EDTA. The cultivars TG 37A, GG 7, HNG 69, ICGV 00348, CSMG 884, and BAU 13 showed high protein (25% and above), Zn (>50 mg kg−1), Fe (>75 mg kg−1), P (>0.60%), and K (>0.75%) with the application of zinc sulfate and hence are being recommended for cultivation and their use as food to ameliorate micronutrient malnutrition.