Fodder maize yield and its quality as influenced by soil and foliar application of zinc and iron

Abstract

Micronutrients deficiencies are often referred to as "hidden Hunger" because affected individuals may not show immediate signs on malnutrition, yet their health is compromised over the long term. Major biofortification done through genetical approach manipulation done through agronomical practices and micronutrient containing fertilizers. Among these three-fodder maize fortification done through agronomical approach, zinc and iron has vital role in biofortification micronutrient fertilization application by soil and foliar application. This strategy entails increasing the accumulation of target nutrients like zinc and iron in edible plant tissues by fertilization or other stimulation. The aim of the present study was evaluated fodder yield and quality of fodder maize as influenced by soil and foliar application of zinc and iron during Kharif season of 2019 and 2020. The treatment were T1: 0 kg ZnSo4/ha (control), T2: 10 kg ZnSo4/ha as basal + 1% ZnSo4 foliar spray at 45 DAS, T3: 10 kg FeSo4/ha as basal + 0.5% FeSo4 foliar spray at 45 DAS, T4: 10 kg ZnSo4 +10 kg FeSo4/ha as basal + 1% ZnSo4 + 0.5% FeSo4 foliar spray at 45 DAS, T5: 20 kg ZnSo4/ha as basal +1% ZnSo4 foliar spray at 45 DAS, T6: 20 kg FeSo4/ha as basal + 0.5% FeSo4 foliar spray at 45 DAS and T7: 20 kg ZnSo4 +20 kg FeSo4/ha as basal + 1% ZnSo4 + 0.5% FeSo4 foliar spray at 45 DAS. An experiment was laid out in Randomized block design with three replications. Soil application of ZnSo4 and FeSO4 @ 10 kg/ha fb foliar application of 1.0% ZnSo4 and 0.5% FeSO4 treatment reported higher growth and yield attributes like periodical plant height, number of leaves at harvest, leaf stem ratio and green fodder yield. Response of zinc and iron fortification treatment on dry matter and crude protein content, crude protein yield and neutral detergent fiber were found to be nonsignificant. Soil and foliar application of Zn and Fe on fodder maize improved Zn and Fe content in plant and soil over control (No micronutrient application) treatment.