Effect of mode of Zinc application on yield and yield components of Maize

Abstract

There are three main methods of adding micronutrients to crops: soil fertilization, foliar spray and seed treatment. Each method has the potential to affect plant micronutrient nutrition. The objective of this research was to evaluate different methods of Zn application in maize. For this purpose, a field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Farm of NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar during summer 2006. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block design with three replications. Three methods of Zn application, soil application, foliar spray and seed treatment were included in the experiment. Three doses of Zinc sulphate (5, 10 and 15 kg ha^-1) were supplied to the maize crop as soil application before sowing. Solutions of 0% (water), 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3% Zinc sulphate were sprayed on the crop at 5-6 leaf stage. For seed priming, the maize seed was soaked in 0% (water), 0.1%, 0.5% and 1% Zinc sulphate solutions for 16 h. The control treatment was dry seeds of maize. Soil application of Zinc sulphate at the rate of 15 kg ha^-1 resulted in higher grains cob^-1, thousand grain weight and grain yield of maize. Planned mean comparison indicated that soil application of Zn was a superior fertilization method as compared to foliar or seed priming. It is concluded that soil application of Zinc sulphate at the rate of 15 kg ha^-1 enhances yield and yield components of maize.