Effect of zinc and magnesium nutrition on yield, quality and removal of nutrients in wheat (Triticum aestivum)

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) season of 2008–10 on alluvial soil of Bichpuri, Agra, to study the effects of Zn (0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10 kg/ha) and magnesium (0, 10, 20 and 40 kg/ha) on wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) emend. Fiori & Paol.] in respect of yield, quality and uptake of nutrients. Application of Zn up to 5 kg/ha increased the grain and straw yield by 9.7 and 11.5% over the control, respectively. Application of 5 kg Zn/ha also recorded the highest values of net returns ( 70.2 × 10³/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (2.74). The addition of Mg up to 20 kg/ha enhanced the mean grain (5.11 t/ha) and straw (6.13 t/ha) yield significantly over the control. The highest net returns ( 68.4 × 10³/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (2.70) were recorded at 20 kg Mg/ha. The interaction effect between Zn and Mg significantly and synergistically influenced the yields, being highest at 5 kg Zn in conjunction with 20 kg Mg/ha. The removal of Zn by grain and straw increased from 152.8 to 202.5 and 129.5 to 182.5 g/ha with the increase in Zn levels. The removal of Mg by grain and straw also increased significantly with the levels of Mg from 11.4 to 15.6 and 7.8 to 12.1 kg/ha, respectively. On the other hand, Zn and Mg showed antagonistic effect on their removal by wheat. The removal of N, P and K increased up to 5 kg Zn and 20 kg Mg/ha level. Protein content and yield also increased significantly with the increase of Zn and Mg over the control. The values of efficiency indices decreased with increasing levels of Mg and Zn.