Influence of potassium fulvate with iron and zinc foliar nutrition on nutrient uptake in chickpea

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2024-25 at the Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Karad, to evaluate the effect of foliar application of potassium fulvate, iron, and zinc on total nutrient uptake in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with nine treatments replicated thrice, consisting of foliar sprays of potassium fulvate at 200, 400, and 600 ppm applied singly or in combination with FeSO₄ and ZnSO₄ (0.5% each), along with the general recommended dose of fertilizers (GRDF). Results revealed that foliar application significantly enhanced total uptake of both macronutrients and micronutrients. The treatment with 400 ppm potassium fulvate + FeSO₄ (0.5%) + ZnSO₄ (0.5%) recorded the highest total uptake of N (93.41 kg ha⁻¹), P (15.21 kg ha⁻¹), K (20.15 kg ha⁻¹), Fe (73.79 g ha⁻¹), Mn (63.42 g ha⁻¹), Zn (129.02 g ha⁻¹), and Cu (42.50 g ha⁻¹), compared to the control. The findings demonstrate that foliar sprays of potassium fulvate with Fe and Zn improve nutrient assimilation, mobility, and utilization efficiency in chickpea.