Enrichment of Wheat Grains With Zinc Through Agronomic Bio-fortification

Abstract

Thesis Title : Enrichment of wheat grains with zinc through agronomic bio-fortification. Name of Advisor: Dr. R. B. Yadav A field experiments was conducted to study the effect of agronomic bio-fortification of zinc in wheat at Crop Research Centre, Chirori ofS.V.P.U.A & T Meerut, U. P. during the rabi season of2013- 2014. The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam in texture with pH 7.19. It was moderately fertile, low in available nitrogen (221.60 kg ha'1 ), and medium in soil organic carbon (0.48%), available phosphorus (16.92 kg ha-1 ) , potash {175 .72 kg ha' 1 ) and DTPA extractable Zn (2.51 kg ha'\ The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with twelve treatments viz. control (No use of ZnS04), ZnS04@ 25 kg ha'1 as basal, ZnS04@ 35 kg ha-1 as basal, ZnS04 0.5% F.S. at 30 DAS, ZnS04 0.5% F.S. at 30 and 60 DAS, ZnS04 0.5% F.S. at 30, 60 and 90 DAS, ZnS04@ 25 kg ha-1 as basal + ZnS04 0.5% F.S. at 30 DAS, ZnS04 @ 25 kg ha'1 as basal + ZnS04 0.5% F.S. at 30 and 60 DAS, ZnS04@25 kg ha-1 as basal+ ZnS04 0.5% F.S. at 30, 60 and 90 DAS, ZnS04@ 35 kg ha'1 as basal+ ZnS04 0.5% F.S. at 30 DAS, ZnS04@ 35 kg ha-1 as basal+ ZnS04 0.5% F.S. at 30 and 60 DAS , ZnS04 @ 35 kg ha'1 as basal+ ZnS04 0.5% F.S. at 30, 60 and 90 DAS. Recommended dose ofN, P20s and K20 ( 150,75 and 60 kg ha-1) was applied. The dose of zinc was applied according to treatments programmed. The wheat variety HD 2851 was used as seedling materials. The results revealed that the growth parameters, yield attributes and yield are affected significantly by zinc fertilization either as basal or as foliar spray. The Zn, Nand K contents in grain and straw of wheat w as significantly increased with the increasing levels of zinc. However, the P content in both grain and straw was in decreasing order due to antagonistic effect of Zn on P. Foliar application of ZnS04 @ 0.5% up to the milking stage of wheat along with recommended dose of ZnS04@ 25 kg ha'1 as soil application proves better to improve zinc concentration in grain. However the increased dose of ZnS04 pr vided higher yield, net return and benefit: cost ratio without any adverse effect on wheat crop.