Nutrient Content, Uptake and Biochemical Composition in Kharif Sorghum Affected by Soil and Foliar Zinc and Iron in Drought Prone Marathwada Area of Maharashtra

Abstract

An experiment was carried out during kharif 2011 to study the responseof kharif sorghum to soil and foliar application of micronutrient zinc and iron at Sorghum Research Station, V.N. Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 10 treatments and three replications. Results revealed that zinc sulphate and ferrous sulphate micronutrient through soil and foliar application along with recommended dose of NPK fertilizers resulted in improvement of kharif sorghum grain and fodder yield. Quality parameters like crude protein, crude fiber, crude fat, moisture content, starch, soluble sugar, ash content, approximate calorific value of grain and crude protein, dietary fiber, ash, organic matter, ether extract, nitrogen free extract of fodder were also improved due to soil and foliar application of micronutrients along with RDF. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium concentration in sorghum fodder was markedly increased by application of RDF along with micronutrients. The treatment T 7 i.e. RDF + soil application of 15 kg ZnSO 4 + 15 kg FeSO 4 /ha recorded highest % N(0.65), % P (0.49)and % K (0.82)in fodder, whereas highest N, P and K in harvested grainswas noted as1.55, 0.88 and 0.41kg/ha, respectively. Total uptake of major nutrients was also recorded as nitrogen (50.79 kg/ha), phosphorus (31.85 kg/ha) and potassium (32.29 kg/ha).

Effect of Micronutrients on Growth and Yield of Sweet Sorghum under Tarai Region of Uttarakhand

“…This might be due to Zn has a key role in photosynthesis and metabolic process augments the production of photosynthates and their translocation to different plant parts and Fe plays a vital role in catalytic function in biological oxidation and reduction in plant as well as it is constituent of a large number of metabolically active compounds like cytochromes, heme and nonheme enzymes and other functional metalloproteins, which ultimately increases the green fodder and dry fodder yield of forage crops (Meena et al, 2013) It might be due to highest dry matter production and crude protein content because crude protein yield is function of crude protein content and dry matter yield. Similar results were also reported by Pawar et al, (2015) and Joshi et al, (2012).…”

“…Similar results were also reported by Sumeriya and Singh (2008) 2013) over control and NPK 120:60:40 kg/ha (RDF), respectively. Zn has important role in basic plant life processes like nitrogen metabolism and uptake of nitrogen resulted increase of crude protein content in plant (Pawar et al, 2015). The results are conformity with the finding of Sharifi and Taghizadeh (2009).…”

Effect of soil and foliar application of iron on productivity and nutrient uptake by parching sorghum

“…This increased N uptake might be due to the increased dry matter production and the related concentration of nitrogen as iron helps in the formation of nucleic acid, protein synthesis and play an active role in several enzymatic activities helping in photosynthesis and respiration. The results are in close conformity with the findings of Pawar et al (2015). Interaction of the soil and foliar application of FeSO 4 was found non-significant with N uptake by leaf-stem, root, parching grain, panicle straw, and total uptake in parching sorghum.…”

“…118.42 kg ha -1 with the foliar application of 0.5% FeSO 4 . Similar findings have been reported by Pawar et al (2015). Interaction between the soil and foliar application of FeSO 4 was found non-significant with K uptake by leaf-stem, root, parching grain, panicle straw, and total uptake by parching sorghum.…”

“…The foliar application of 1.0% FeSO 4 spray at the flowering stage was recorded significantly highest P uptake by leaf-stem (80.44 kg ha -1 ), root(13.62 kg ha -1 ) parching grain (18.69 kg ha -1 ), panicle straw (20.71kg ha -1 ), and total uptake (133.47 kg ha -1 ) which was found at par with foliar application of 0.5% FeSO 4 at the flowering stage by leaf-stem (69.06 kg ha -1 ), root(12.68 kg ha -1 ), parching grain (16.70 kg ha -1 ) and panicle straw (19.46 kg ha -1 ) and superior over the control. Similar results finding by Pawar et al (2015). Interaction among the soil and foliar application of FeSO 4 was found nonsignificant in respect of P uptake by leaf-stem, root, parching grain, panicle straw, and total uptake in parching sorghum.…”