Effect of Zn and B Application on Nutrients Availability in Soil, Their Uptake and Productivity of Lentil in Western U.p.

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during rabi seasion 2020 at Crop Research Center of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut (U.P.) to evaluate the Effect of Zn and B application. The area situated at a latitude of 290 4’ N and longitude of 770 42’ E with an elevation of 237 m above mean sea level. The soil of experimental field was well drained, sandy loam in texture, alkaline in reaction (7.4), low in available nitrogen and sulphur, medium in available phosphorus potassium, B in low and Zn in medium with an electrical conductivity of 0.34 dSm-1. Ten treatments comprising control, Effect of Zn and B application were tested in RBD with three replication. The crop was grown with recommendation package and practices for lentil with exception of zinc and boron application which was variable as per treatments. The data on growth, yield and its contributing traits content and uptake of nutrients at harvest stage along with available N, P, K, Zn, B and bulk density of soil were estimated as per the standard procedure. The experimental results revealed that growth parameter (plant population, plant heght-1, and number of branches plant-1, nodules and their dry weight), yield attributing traits viz. number of pods plant-1, number of grain plant-1, grain yield plant-1, test weight and biological yield, grain yield, straw yield and content and uptake of N, P, K, Zn, S and B in lentil differ significantly among different treatments. Growth parameter was significantly better in the treatment T10 (RDF + Boron 2 kg ha-1 + Zinc 5 kg ha-1). The highest grain yield was recorded in T10 RDF + Boron 2 kg ha-1 + Zinc 5 kg ha-1 was applied with Zn and B. This treatment was statistically at par with T8. Growth and yield attributing characters were comparatively higher in T10. Available nutrients in soil and physico-chemical properties of soil after harvest of lentil were variable under different treatments. From the study it may be concluded that the application of RDF + Boron 2 kg ha-1 + Zinc 5 kg ha-1 with Zn and B (T10) gave best results (Grain yield increased by 26.7%, 25.7%, 21%, 22.9%, 17.2% and 59.1% over T1, T3, T4, T5, T6 and T1, respectively) and proved to be beneficial for rabi lentil. Application of RDF + Boron 2 kg ha-1 + Zinc 5 kg ha-1 was applied with Zn and B (T9) also gave better results. The balance and combine use of Zn and B along with N, P, K and S in lentil improved the growth attributes, total uptake of nutrients along with maintaining the soil fertility.