Effect of New Formulation of Micronutrients on Soil Fertility, Nutrient Grain Density and Yield of Wheat In Sandy Loam Soil of Western Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted on wheat in winter (Rabi) season for two consecutive years (2017-18 and 2018-19) at the Crop Research Centre, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut-250110. The soil of experimental field was sandy loam in texture and slightly alkaline in reaction. The soil was low in available nitrogen, medium in phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, DTPA extractable Zn, manganese and hot water extracted boron. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with 3 replication and 12 treatments. The treatments consisted T1 Control (N:P:K 120:60:40 kg ha-1), T2 (T1 +soil application of ZnSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1), T3 (T1 + soil application of Zn HEDP @ 5 kg ha-1), T4 (T1 + foliar application of Zn HEDP @0.5 %), T5 (T1 + soil application of MnSO4@ 12.5 kg ha-1), T6 (T1 + foliar application of EDTA Mn @ 0.5%), T7 (T1 + soil application of Colemanite @ 7.5 kg ha-1), T8 (T1 +soil application of Borax @ 10 kg ha-1), T9 (T1 + foliar application of Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT) @ 0.3 %), T10 (T1 + soil application of ZnSO4+ MnSO4+ Borax), T11 (T1 + soil application of Zn HEDP + MnSO4+ Colemanite), T12 (T1 + foliar application of Zn HEDP + EDTA Mn + DOT). The wheat cultivar (PBW-590) was sown with a seed rate of 120 kg ha-1. Split dose of N, the full dose of P, K and soil application of Zn, Mn and boron at the time of sowing. Foliar application of different micronutrients in wheat was made at three different intervals tillering, jointing and booting stage. All the growth, yield attributes, yield, nutrient content and uptake, nutrients use efficiency, soil fertility level and economic feasibility were assessed during experiments. The findings of experiment revealed that the growth attributes like plant height, number of tillers per m2, chlorophyll content, dry matter accumulation and yield attributes i.e. spike length, spikelet per spike, no. of grain per spike, test weight and yield of grain and straw was maximum with application of T11 (soil application of Zn HEDP + MnSO4 + Colemanite with RDF) followed by RDF + foliar application of Zn HEDP + EDTA Mn + DOT. The content and uptake of nutrients was improved with the combined application of NPK and micronutrients either soil or foliar application. The nutrients use efficiency was superior in all treatments where foliar application of micronutrients was done with NPK during both years. The chelated zinc, manganese and colemanite was superior among zinc, manganese and boron sources over ZnSO4, MnSO4 and borax, respectively. Soil fertility level in respect to applied nutrients and other chemical properties was improved with soil application of zinc, manganese and boron with NPK while foliar application maintain the initial fertility level with higher yield. The highest net return obtained with T11 while B:C ratio was superior in T12 where foliar application of all three micronutrients along with NPK. Thus a balanced nutrient application in a right amount, right method and right time is found to be better in improving the every aspect of wheat cultivation including the soil fertility.