Agronomic Biofortification Of Wheat Varieties With Zinc And Iron Through Fertilization Strategy

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during Rabi seasons of 2015-16 and 2016-17 at Students Instructional Farm of Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, situated at 125.9 meter altitude, 26.41480 North latitude, 80.23210 East longitude, to study Agronomic biofortification of wheat varieties with zinc and iron through fertilization strategy . The experiment consisted three varieties (PBW 550, DBW 17 and K 402), two FYM levels (FYM at10 t ha-1 and without FYM) and three nutrient management treatments (NPK- 150:60:40 kg ha-1 only, NPK+ ZnSO4 at 25 kg ha-1 as basal + FeSO4 1% sprayed at tillering stage, NPK + ZnSO4 at 25 kg ha-1 as basal + FeSo4 1% sprayed at flag leaf stage). The treatments were accommodated in split-split plot design with three replications. The soil of experimental field was sandy loam in texture having low organic carbon (0.36 %), medium in available nitrogen (174 kg ha-1) low in available phosphorus (14.0 kg ha-1), medium in available potassium (154.0 kg ha-1), low in available zinc (0.68 mg ha-1) and normal in available iron (8.42 mg ha-1) with normal pH (7.92). Pooled results of two years experimentation indicated that highest value of grain yield (5017.6 kg ha-1), harvest index (38.15 %), grain zinc concentration (41.70 ppm), grain Iron concentration (48.82 ppm) and net income (Rs.70978 ha-1) was recorded under the variety K 402. Application of FYM at10 t ha-1 + NPK (150: 60: 40 kg ha-1) recorded maximum grain yield (4678.51 kg ha-1), harvest index (36.97 %), grain zinc concentration (41.21 ppm), grain iron concentration (47.15 ppm), net income (Rs.63918 ha-1) compared to without FYM treatment. Application of NPK at (150:60:40 kg ha-1 + ZnSO4 at 25 kg ha-1 as basal + FeSO4 1% sprayed at tillering stage recorded highest grain yield (4805.69 kg ha-1), harvest index (37.13 %), grain zinc concentration (42.03 ppm), grain iron concentration (47.88 ppm) and net income (Rs.67774 ha-1) compared to other nutrient management treatments.