Response of Pulses to Foliar Application of Multinutrients on Yield, Quality, Uptake and Soil Nutrient Status

Abstract

A pot culture experiment was carried out with the redgram var. CO(Rg)7 at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. The soil used for the experiment was red, calcareous, sandy loam which belongs to the soil series Palladam (TypicUstropept). The experiment soil was medium in available N (285 kg ha-1), high in available P (26.75 kg ha-1) and K (287 kg ha-1). The soil was deficient in DTPA-Fe (4.80 mg kg-1), DTPA-Mn (0.25 mg kg-1), DTPA-Zn (0.15 mg kg-1), DTPA-Cu (0.22 mg kg-1), and sufficient in hot water soluble B (0.75 mg kg-1). The experiment was laid out with eleven treatments in a completely randomised design (CRD) replicated thrice to study the effect of foliar application of multinutrients on the yield, quality, uptake and soil nutrient status of redgram. In the treatments of foliar application with different combinations of complex, micronutrient and chelated micronutrient fertilisers at different stages, application of 0.5% KNO 3 + 2% DAP + micronutrient spray along with soil application of 100% recommended dose of NPK (T 7) recorded the maximum value of yield attributes. Quality parameters such as seed protein content and seed total free amino acid content were enhanced by the foliar application of 0.5% KNO 3 + 2% DAP + micronutrient spray. Application of 100% RD NPK and foliar spraying of 0.5% KNO 3 + 2% DAP + micronutrient recorded the highest macro and micro nutrient uptake which was followed by the treatments that received 100% RD NPK and foliar spray of 0.5% MAP + 0.5% KNO 3 + micronutrients and 100% RD NPK and foliar spray of 0.5% KNO 3 + 2% DAP + chelated micronutrients. Availability of N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and B contents in soil at different stages was significantly influenced by the various foliar applications. The Chlorophyll 'a', 'b' and total chlorophyll contents were found to be the highest in the treatment that received 100% RD NPK + foliar spray of 0.5% KNO 3 + 2% DAP + micronutrients (T 7).

Foliar Nutrition with Water Soluble Macro and Micro Nutrient Fertilizers for Yield Maximization in Bush Vegetable Cowpea

“…Rapid Foliar Nutrition with Water Soluble Macro and Micro Nutrient Fertilizers for Yield Maximization in Bush Vegetable Cowpea availability of nutrients under foliar application leads to accelerated rate of physiological processes which ultimately improved the plant growth and number of pods per plant (Khanda et al, 1999). Krishna and Kaleeswari (2018) opined that foliar application of macro and micro nutrients increased the number of flower buds and their retention by maintaining optimum bio-physiological conditions compared to control (without foliar application). Treatment T 5 recorded the highest number of pods per plant and it was statistically on par with T 2 , T 6 and T 11 .…”

“…Compared to T 1 , all the foliar nutrition treatments registered higher haulm yield. This might be due to the fact that foliar application of primary nutrients along with Zn and B enhanced the crop growth (Krishna and Kaleeswari, 2018). Adequate availability of N favours vegetative growth and formation of dark green leaves which would actively participate in photosynthesis (Thakur et al, 1991).…”