Role of Integrated Nutrient Management and Agronomic Fortification of Zinc on Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Quality of Wheat

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn) are essential plant nutrients, and their deficiency in soils and the antagonistic effect of P on Zn are important concerns world-over. Thus, a two-year (2012–13 to 2013–14) experimentation was carried out to assess grain yield, nutrient uptake and quality parameters of wheat by various levels of P and Zn. The results revealed that 50% recommended dose of P (RDP) through phospho-enriched compost (PEC) + 50% RDP through fertiliser and soil application of 12.5 kg ZnSO4.7H2O ha−1 + one foliar spray of 0.5% ZnSO4.7H2O recorded significantly higher grain yield (4.81 and 4.61 t ha−1, respectively), straw yield (7.20 and 6.92 t ha−1, respectively) and protein content (11.5% and 11.3%, respectively). The concentrations of Zn in grain (35.6%) and straw (57.3%) were not affected due to organic P application but 100% P through P fertilizer reduced the Zn content in the grains. Both soil and foliar application of Zn were found to be more promising in increasing Zn and Fe concentration in grains (37.5 and 30.9 mg kg−1, respectively) and straw (60.3 and 398 mg kg−1, respectively). Overall, the treatment combination of 50% RDP through PEC + 50% RDP through fertiliser and soil applied 12.5 kg ZnSO4.7H2O ha−1 + one spray of 0.5% Zn was beneficial in reducing antagonistic effect of P on Zn and increasing Zn and Fe concentration in wheat grain and, thus, could be used for improving the yield of Zn and Fe enriched wheat grains.

Microbial Biomass Carbon, Activity of Soil Enzymes, Nutrient Availability, Root Growth, and Total Biomass Production in Wheat Cultivars under Variable Irrigation and Nutrient Management

“…The application of 50% RDF + 50% RDN through FYM increased the amount of available N to 100% RDF during both years. This could be explained by the residual effect of decomposed organic manure within the soil following crop harvest [40]. Su et al [41], Jiang et al [42], and Dass et al [43] have also confirmed that FYM application separately or combined with some inorganic fertilizer enhanced the nutrient composition of the soil.…”

Integrated Nutrient Management Improves the Growth and Yield of Rice and Greengram in a Rice—Greengram Cropping System under the Coastal Plain Agro-Climatic Condition

“…With respect to nutrient management in aromatic rice, significantly taller plant height was noted with 50% RDF + 50% RDN through FYM in both the years which was at par with 75% RDF + green manuring and 75% RDF + 25% RDN through FYM. It might be due to the reason that integrated nutrient management practices increased in higher nutrient availability, resulting in increased conversion of carbohydrates to protein, which enhances meristematic cellular activity like cell division and cell elongation expressing morphologically in terms of increasing measured variables—such as plant height—ultimately increasing higher dry matter accumulation [ 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Similar results were also obtained by Asewar et al [ 26 ], Sudha and Chandini [ 27 ] and Usman et al [ 28 ], who observed increasing growth attributes with FYM + chemical fertiliser applied plots.…”

Co-fertilization of Silicon and Phosphorus Influences the Dry Matter Accumulation, Grain Yield, Nutrient Uptake, and Nutrient-Use Efficiencies of Aerobic Rice

“…It might be due to the genesis of insoluble forms of Cu, such as Cu-phosphate. Paramesh et al [66] reported application of P through chemical fertilizer or compost significantly increased the Fe concentration and uptake in wheat [66]. Among the Si applications, the highest Fe and Mn uptake in grain and straw was recorded with 120 kg Si ha -1 .…”