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Abstract
Aim:
To determine the impact of soil and foliar application of ZnSO4.7H2O
at late stages of wheat as heading initiation (5% ear formation), 100%
heading (complete ear formation) and heading initiation and 100% heading
along with recommended dose of fertilizer on growth, yield and quality of
zero till wheat.
Methodology: The field experiment was conducted on zero till
wheat. The treatments consisted of control (no Zn), soil application of 12.5,
25, 37.5, 50 kg ha-1 ZnSO4.7H2O and foliar
application of 0.5% Zn as one spray at heading initiation (5% ear formation),
one spray at 100% heading (complete ear formation) and two sprays at heading
initiation and 100% heading with recommended dose of fertilizer. These
treatments were evaluated in RBD with three replications.
Results:
Soil application of 50, 37.5 and 25 kg Zn ha-1 with two foliar sprays of 0.5%
at heading initiation (5% ear formation) and 100% heading (complete ear
formation) stages gave significantly higher average grain and straw yield and
Zn concentration in grain than other treatments, including control.
Interpretation: Enhanced application of Zn as soil and
foliar application ameliorates soil Zn deficiency and increases protein
content in grains, which might influence the quality and yield of zero tilled
wheat.
Key
words:
Foliar spray, Grain yield, Wheat, Zinc
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