Effect of Zinc and Iron Enriched Organics on Growth, Yield, Keeping Quality and Economics of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Maize-Wheat Sequence Cropping

A field experiment was carried out on “Effect of zinc and iron enriched organics on growth, yield, keeping quality and economics of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in maize-wheat sequence cropping” at Agricultural Research Station, Kalloli, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad (Karnataka) for a period of two years (2012–13 and 2013–14) with an objective of 1. Effect of Fe and Zn enriched organics on growth, yield components and yield of wheat. 2. To know the effect of Fe and Zn enriched organics on Fe and Zn concentration in wheat grains and 3. To study the effect of Fe and Zn enriched organics on grain quality of wheat. The experiment consisted of three different nutrient management practices to maize during kharif season viz., M₁: RDF (150: 75: 37.5 Kg NPK ha⁻¹) + FYM (10 t ha⁻¹) + ZnSO₄ (25 Kg ha⁻¹) + FeSO₄(25 Kg ha⁻¹), M₂: RDF + FYM (10 t ha⁻¹), M₃: RDF (only inorganic fertilizers) (Main plots) and nine enrichment treatments during rabi season for wheat (S₁: RDF (100: 75: 50 NPK kg ha⁻¹) + FYM (7.5 t ha⁻¹), S₂: RDF + FYM + Enriched FYM (500 kg ha⁻¹) with 4 kg FeSO₄.5HO₂ + 2 kg ZnSO₄.7HO₂ ha⁻¹, S₃: RDF + FYM + Enriched FYM (500 kg ha⁻¹) with 6 kg FeSO₄.5H₂O + 4 kg ZnSO₄.7H₂O ha⁻¹, S₄: RDF + FYM + Enriched Vermicompost (250 kg ha⁻¹) with 4 kg FeSO₄.5H₂O + 2 kg ZnSO₄.7H₂O ha⁻¹, S₅: RDF + FYM + Enriched Vermicompost (250 kg ha⁻¹) with 6 kg FeSO₄.5H₂O + 4 kg ZnSO₄.7H₂O ha⁻¹, S₆: RDF + FYM + Enriched FYM (500 kg ha⁻¹) with 4 kg FeSO₄.5H₂O ha⁻¹, S₇: RDF + FYM + Enriched FYM (500 kg ha⁻¹) with 6 kg FeSO₄.5H₂O ha⁻¹, S₈: RDF + FYM + Enriched Vermicompost (250 kg ha⁻¹) with 2 kg ZnSO₄. 7H₂O ha⁻¹, S₉: RDF + FYM + Enriched Vermicompost (250 kg ha⁻¹) with 4 kg ZnSO₄.7H₂O ha⁻¹) (Sub plots). The treatments were replicated thrice. Seeds of bread wheat (var. UAS-304) were sown on 10-11-2012 and 29-10-2013 during first year and second year of rabi season respectively. The results revealed that, application of RDF + FYM + Enriched FYM (500 kg ha⁻¹) with 6 kg FeSO₄.5H₂O + 4 kg ZnSO₄.7H₂O ha⁻¹ recorded significantly higher plant height (75.71 cm), Leaf area index (3.18) and Leaf area duration (69.09) of wheat compared to other enrichments. Significantly higher grain yield (48.01 q ha⁻¹), straw yield (82.29 q ha⁻¹) and Harvest index (0.368) of wheat with application of RDF + FYM + Enriched FYM (500 kg ha⁻¹) with 6 kg FeSO₄.5H₂O + 4 kg ZnSO₄.7H₂O ha⁻¹. Further, significantly least reduction of germination percentage (97.22 to 87.48) and Vigour index (3801 to 3110) was noticed from initial to Six months after storage of wheat in the treatment received RDF + FYM + Enriched FYM (500 kg ha⁻¹) with 6 kg FeSO₄.5H₂O + 4 kg ZnSO₄.7H₂O ha⁻¹. Significantly higher Gross returns (¹.109088 ha⁻¹), Net returns (¹.71266 ha⁻¹) and BC ratio (3.31) were recorded due to application of RDF + FYM + Enriched FYM (500 Kg ha⁻¹) with 6 Kg FeSO₄.5H₂O + 4 Kg ZnSO₄.7H₂O ha⁻¹ (S₃) as compared to rest of the enrichments.