Effect of Zinc Application on Root Parameters, Yields and Zinc Uptake of Different Wheat Varieties

A pot experiment was conducted tostudy the effect of Zn application on root parameters, yields and Zn uptake of four wheat varieties during 2012–13. The test varieties were: UP 262, UP 2628, PBW 175 and UP 2554. The experiment was laid out in 2 factorial completely randomized design with the treatment combination viz: wheat varieties (UP 262, UP 2628, PBW 175 and UP 2554), Zn levels: 0 mg Zn kg⁻¹ soil (Zn0) and 10 mg Zn kg⁻¹ soil (Zn10). The root parameters were tested by paired t-test. Zinc application significantly increased the surface area and volume of roots in UP 2628 over no application of Zn. Zinc application alsoincreased the averagegrain yield of wheat varieties by 52.2 percent over no Zn application. Among wheat varieties, the highest grain yieldwas observed in UP 2628 (5.74 g/pot) followed by UP 2554 (3.75 g/pot), PBW 175 (2.77 g/pot) and UP 262 (1.96 g/pot). Zinc application also increased the average Zn uptake in wheat straw by 15.3 percent. The variety UP 2628 (464.49 μg/pot) had the highest average total Zn uptake followed by PBW 175(323.72 μg/pot), UP 262 (311.00μg/pot) and UP2554 (284.43 μg/pot). It can be concluded from the study that the variety UP 2628 had higher Zn uptake and biochemical utilization capacity under Zn deficient conditionsthan other three varietieswhereas; UP 262 had the lowest grainyields under Zn deficiency which increased significantly with application of Zn in soil. Zinc mass enrichment factor in grain was 1.47 (UP 2628), 1.78 (UP 2554), 2.24 (UP 262) and 2.55 (PBW 175).