Effect of Soil and Foliar Application of Zn and Fe on Nutrient Status of Hybrid Maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

The present experiment was carried out to study the effect of soil and foliar application of zinc and iron on nutrient status of maize at Sardar Vallabhbhai University, Meerut during Kharif season of 2017-18. The present study consists of soil application of eight nutrient treatments namely 100% NPK, NPK+ Zn and Fe each @ 5 kg/ha,@ 10 kg/ha,@ 20 kg/ha, NPK+ Zn and Fe each @10 kg/ha + vermicompost (1.5 t/ha), NPK+Vermicompost @ 1.5 t/ha, NPK+ Zn and Fe each @ 5 kg/ha + foliar spray each @ 0.1% at the tasselling stage and NPK+ Foliar spray Zn and Fe each @ 0.1% at 25 DAS and at tasselling stage. These treatments were tested in RBD with three replications, aiming to know the effect of micro-nutrients (Zinc and Iron) on performance nutrient content and uptake of the maize cultivar, ADV 755. The maximum nitrogen, phosphorus & potassium content and uptake were recorded in the treatment number T5(T1 +soil applied Zn and Fe each @10 kg/ha + vermicompost), the maximum Zn and Fe content and uptake were recorded in the treatment number T7(T1+Soil applied Zn and Fe each @ 5 kg/ha + foliar spray each @ 0.1% at tasseling stage) wherein N,P,K, Zn and Fe were applied with vermicompost.The application of N,P,K and vermicompostwould have also helped in increasing N,P and K content and uptake in plants. The maximum Zn and Fe, content and uptake were recorded in Treatment T7which may have happened due to better soil and foliage application availability of nutrients in it.