Effect of zinc fortification on growth, yield and economics of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under irrigated condition of Punjab

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during the Rabi season of 2016-17 at Research Farm of Dolphin (PG) College of Science and Agriculture, Chunni Kalan, Fatehgarh Sahib Punjab. The experiment was designed in randomized block design with three replications and eight treatments. The results revealed that maximum plant height 23.20, 55.74, 91.07 and 96.07 cm and dry matter accumulation 57.88, 575.81, 1138.65 and 1396.40 g m-2 at 30,60,90 DAS and at harvest respectively, were recorded treatment T8 (T4 + 0.2% foliar spray with zinc sulphate at heading stage) which was significantly higher over all the treatments and at par with T6, T9 and T4 treatments. The number of spikes per plant (6.60), number of grains per spike (41.00), grain yield (5.30 t ha-1) and straw yield (6.43 t ha-1) were recorded significantly highest under the treatment T8 (T4 + 0.2% foliar spray with zinc sulphate at heading stage) as comparison to other treatments and was statistically at par with T6, T9 and T7 while the treatment T1 recorded significantly lowest grain and straw yield. The application of T8 (T4 + 0.2% foliar spray with zinc sulphate at heading stage) was recorded highest organic carbon (0.67 %) available Nitrogen (414.19 kg ha-1), Phosphorus (20.80 kg ha-1), Potassium (227.67 kg ha-1) and zinc (0.671 ppm) in soil and statistically at par with the treatments T6 (T2 + 0.2% foliar spray with zinc sulphate at heading stage) and T9 (T5 + 0.2% foliar spray with Zinc Sulphate at heading stage).