1Division of Agronomy, IARI, Pusa, New Delhi-110 012
2ADG (Human Resource Management), Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi-110 001
ICAR - Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012
*Corresponding author Email: drsdmisra@gmail.com
Based on a part of Ph.D. thesis of the first author submitted to Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, in 2014 (unpublished)
A field experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) seasons of 2012 and 2013 at New Delhi to examine the effect of phosphorus (P) sources and zinc (Zn) application on yield, uptake and quality of maize (Zea mays L.). Application of P50-phosphoenriched compost (PEC) + P50-fertilizer (F) recorded higher yield attributes, grain yield (4.3 t/ha) and protein (9.2%) with amino acids content in grain. The P50-PEC + P50- F recorded higher P, Zn and Fe uptake in grain, stover and total (grain + stover) than the control. The application of 12.5 kg/ha of ZnSO4 + 1 foliar spray of ZnSO4 @ 0.5% recorded the highest values of yield attributes and grain yield (4.2 t/ha) of maize. The P and Zn uptake in grain and stover were found highest in soil + foliar-applied plots. The higher Fe uptake in grain was found with 2 foliar sprays of Zn. The higher crude protein (9%) and amino acids were found in 25 kg/ha of ZnSO4 and it was on a par with soil + foliar application of Zn. Overall, combined application of PEC and chemical fertilizer with soil + foliar application of Zn proved promising in for higher yield with increased tissue uptake of nutrients and for higher protein and amino acids content in grain.
Amino Acids, Nutrient Uptake, Phosphorus, Phosphoenriched Compost, Protein, Zinc
