Performance of agronomic biofortification of zinc and iron on growth, yield and nutrient uptake by pearlmillet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.)] genotypes

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Agricultural College Farm, Raichur, Karnataka, during kharif 2016-2017 to study the performance of agronomic biofortification with zinc and iron on yield and quality of pearlmillet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.)] genotypes. The plant height, leaf area index and total dry matter production recorded with genotype G3: HFeZn-113 (184.16 cm 3.01 and 224.9 g plant-1 at harvest, respectively). Among the Micronutrients application (193.10 cm, 3.73 and 244.6 g plant-1 at harvest, respectively) recorded with M7: Soil application of ZnSO4 @ 15 kg ha-1 & FeSO4 @ 10 kg ha-1 + Foliar application of 0.5% ZnSO4 and FeSO4 each as compared to other treatments. The genotype G3: HFeZn-113 (high in Zn & Fe) recorded significantly higher grain and stover yield (1721 kg ha-1 and 4437 kg ha-1, respectively). Among the micronutrient application significantly higher grain and stover yield was obtained in M7: soil application of ZnSO4 @ 15 kg ha-1 & FeSO4 @ 10 kg ha-1 + Foliar application of 0.5% ZnSO4 and FeSO4 each (1904 kg ha-1 and 4611 kg ha-1, respectively). Significantly higher zinc uptake by grain, stover and total uptake of zinc was recorded with genotype G3: HFeZn-113 (high in Zn & Fe) (47.85, 124.46 and 172.12 ppm, respectively). Among micronutrients application significantly higher zinc uptake by grain, stover and total uptake of zinc was recorded with M7: Soil application of ZnSO4 @ 15 kg ha-1 and FeSO4 @ 10 kg ha-1 + Foliar application of 0.5% ZnSO4 and FeSO4 (57.65, 142.30 and 200.40 ppm, respectively). Significantly higher iron uptake by grain, stover and total uptake of iron was recorded with G3: HFeZn-113 (high in Zn & Fe) (302.04, 786.41 and 1089.14 ppm, respectively). Among micronutrients application resulted in significantly higher iron uptake by grain, stover and total uptake of iron was recorded with M7: Soil application of ZnSO4 @ 15 kg ha-1 and FeSO4 @ 10 kg ha-1 + Foliar application of 0.5% ZnSO4 and FeSO4 (335.41, 808.21 and 1143.19 ppm, respectively) as compared to other treatment.