Integrated Use of Boron and Zinc for Enhancing growth, Yield and Quality of Canola

Abstract

P akistan is facing shortage of edible oil as gap between its demand and yield is increasing day by day. Local production and demand of edible oil are 0.374 and 3.291 million tones, respectively. The gap of 2.917 m. tones of edible oil is bridged up by import that is of value US$ 3.419 billion. Increase in edible oil is vital to meet domestic demand and industrial products while also conserving foreign currency, Abstract | To identify the influence of the integrated boron and zinc application on canola's (Brassica juncea) growth, quality and yield, a field trial was performed at research farm, Agriculture College, University of Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan during winter season 2020-21. Treatments comprised of three B (0, 1, and 2 kg ha -1 ) and three Zn (0, 8, and 10 kg ha -1 ) levels and their all-possible combinations as their basal application to soil as boric acid and ZnSO 4 fertilizers, respectively. RCBD with three blocks was applied. Seed of AARI Canola variety was sown in 45 cm apart rows. Maximum CGR (155 g m -2 day -1 ), total dry matter (10663 kg ha -1 ), LAD (360 days), LAI (4.6), and NAR (34.4 g m -2 day -1 ), plant height (195.0 cm), and silique length (6.06 cm) biological yield (15.67 tons ha -1 ), seed yield (3.85 t ha -1 ) and oil yield (1188.3 kg ha -1 ) of canola were recorded with 2 kg ha -1 B + 10 kg ha -1 Zn treatment. The enhancement in seed and oil yield of canola seems to be due to improvement in seeds per silique (29) and 1000-seed weight (4.25 g). A synergistic relationship might exist between these two nutrients as their combined application showed greater effect in enhancing growth and yield of canola over sole application. Further, both nutrients enhanced the uptake of each other. We concluded that the application of 10 kg ha -1 zinc combined with 2 kg ha -1 boron can maximize the canola yield, net benefit (Rs. 706765) and benefit cost ratio (3.47), and therefore recommend this a feasible production technology for canola.