Exploring the Role of Zinc in Maize (Zea Mays L.) through Soil and Foliar Application

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) is considered as high nutrient demanding crop and needs balanced nutrition. It is also regarded sensitive to zinc deficiency. Zinc is mostly deficient in soils and application of zinc fertilizer is required to explore its full potential. Crop species and even cultivars within species vary in their Zn requirement. A field experiment was conducted during spring 2011 at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan to evaluate the comparative efficacy of Zn uptake and grain yield in three maize hybrids (Pioneer-32 F 10, Monsanto-6525 and Hycorn-8288) through the application of Zn in the form of ZnSO 4. The ZnSO 4 treatments comprised; soil application at the time of sowing @ 12 kg ha-1 , foliar application at vegetative stage (9 leaf stage) @ 1% ZnSO 4 solution and foliar application at reproductive stage (anthesis) @ 1% ZnSO 4 solution and one treatment was kept as a control. The experimental results showed substantial difference in yield and yield contributing parameters such as plant population at harvest, number of grains per cob, biological yield, grain yield and harvest index. Statistically maximum grain yield (8.76t ha-1) was obtained with foliar spray of ZnSO 4 at 9-leaf stage (Zn 2) in case of Monsanto-6525. Foliar spray of ZnSO 4 increased 38% and soil application gave 23.7% more grain yield than control treatment. Foliar spray of ZnSO 4 at 9-leaf stage in Monsanto-6525 hybrid produced higher grain yield and net field benefit. Thus foliar application of Zn fertilizers has a positive effect on economic and biological yield of maize crop.

Exploring the role of zinc fertilization methods for agronomic bio-fortification and its impact on phenology, growth and yield characteristics of maize

“…Similar results are also reported by Khan et al (2004) and Malavolta (2006) who indicated that basal application of Zn improved the biological yield of crop. The results of our experiment regarding harvest index are contradicted with the findings of Ehsanullah et al (2015) and Potarzycki and Grzebisz (2009) who stated that foliar application of Zn significantly enhanced the harvest index. In our study, compared to control, a significant increase was found in grain Zn concentration of maize.…”

“…Similar findings were also reported by Tariq et al (2002) who revealed that soil application at 20 kg Zn ha -1 increased the grain yield of maize. Our findings also corroborate the results of Grzebisz et al (2008) and Ehsanullah et al (2015) who reported that foliar application of Zn enhanced the grain yield and its component. The increase in biological yield with basal application at 15 kg ZnSO 4 ha -1 might have been due to enhanced growth on account of protein synthesis or higher activity of carbonic anhydrase (DELL; WILSON, 1985).…”

“…Zinc is most decisive amongst the micro-nutrients that take part in plant growth due to its catalytic action in the metabolism of almost all crops (FAGERIA, 2002). The beneficial effect of Zn fertilization on growth and development of maize and other crops have already been reported (EHSANULLAH et al, 2015;MANZEKE et al, 2014). After germination, Zn increases the seedling growth, root and shoots development of plant and the effects were evident in a Zn deficient soil after six week of growth (WELCH, 1999).…”

“…Plant height, cob length and cob diameter were increased with basal application of 15 kg Zn ha -1 which might be due to appropriate accessibility of Zn to maize plant. According to Ehsanullah et al (2015), application of Zn stimulates the plant height. AKRAM et al (2010) stated that both foliar and soil application of Zn enhanced the plant height of maize.…”

Response of maize to foliar application of zinc and azotobacter inoculation under different levels of urea fertilizer

“…Shaharoona et al (2006) observed the biomass improved up to 68.4% in maize when the seeds were inoculated by Azotobacter compared to control. Vegetative growth and consequently biological yield are highly dependent on consumption of micro and macro chemical elements by the maize plant (Ehsanullah et al, 2015), so application of fertilizers that contain those elements leads to an increase in biological yield of maize. Protein content (%)…”