Response of Zinc and Foliar Spray of Boron on Growth and Yield of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi season (2022) at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, SHUATS, Prayagraj (UP). The soil of experimental plot was sandy loam in texture, nearly natural in soil reaction (pH 7.1), low in organic carbon (0.28 6), available N (225 kg/ha), available P (19.50 kg/ha) and available K (213.7 kg/ha). The Treatments consisted of 3 levels of each micro-nutrients having boron (B 1-0.25%), (B 2- 0.5%) (B 3-0.75%) and Zinc (Zn 1-3 kg/ha), (Zn 2-5 kg/ha) and (Zn 3-7 kg/ha). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 9 treatments with three replication each. The treatments combinations are T1: Zinc at 3 kg/ha + Boron at 0.25%, T2: Zinc at 3 kg/ha + Boron at 0.5%, T3: Zinc at 3 kg/ha + Boron at 0.75%, T4: Zinc at 5 kg/ha + Boron at 0.25%, T5: Zinc at 5 kg/ha + Boron at 0.5%, T6: Zinc at 5 kg/ha + Boron at 0.75%, T7: Zinc at 7 kg/ha + Boron at 0.25%, T8: Zinc at 7 kg/ha + Boron at 0.5%, T9: Zinc at 7 kg/ha + Boron at 0.75%, T10: Control (RDF- 20:60:20 kg/ha) are used. Application of Zinc in combination with Boron 0.75% recorded significantly higher in plant height (55.21 cm), No. of nodules/plant (62.16), plant dry weight (22.13 g) and higher yield attribute namely No. of pods/plant (33.21), No. of seeds/pod (1.30), seed yield (3.09 t/ha) and stover yield (4.55 t/ha). Maximum B:C ratio (2.38) was also recorded in same treatment, treatment no. T9 (Zinc + Boron 0.75%) in chickpea crop.