Effect of zinc application methods on yield attributes, yield and nutrient uptake in wheat (Triticum aestivum) varieties under sodic soil

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) season 2008–10 at Chandeswar, Azamgarh, on a zinc (Zn)-deficient and salt affected soil, to elucidate the most effective and economical method of Zn application for wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) emend. Fiori & Paol.] yield improvement in partially reclaimed sodic soils of eastern Uttar Pradesh. Eighteen treatments comprised 6 methods of Zn application, viz. control (no Zn), seed soaking with 0.5% ZnSO₄.7H₂O aqueous, seed soaking with 1.0% ZnSO₄. 7H₂O (ZnSHH) aqueous, 20 and 30 kg/ha ZnSHH (basal) and foliar spray of 5 kg/ha ZnSHH with 2% urea in 1,000 litres water at 25 and 50 days after sowing (2 sprays), and 3 wheat varieties, viz. ‘NW 1012’, ‘PBW 343’ and ‘Malviya 468’ were tested in factorial randomized block design with 3 replication. All the Zn application methods, increased the plant height, tillers/plant, grains/spike, spike length, test weight, grain yield, straw yield and nutrient uptake over the control (no Zn). Foliar spray of Zn sulphate (5 kg/ha hepta hydrate) resulted in 26% higher grain yield than the control. Overall performance of ‘NW 1012’ variety of wheat showed superiority to ‘Malviya 468’ and ‘PBW 343’. Variety ‘NW 1012’ gave 6.0 and 3.8% higher grain yield over ‘Malviya 468’ and ‘PBW 343’, respectively. Foliar spray of 5 kg/ha ZnSHH with 2% urea in 1,000 litres water at 25 and 50 days after sowing was most economical. These foliar zinc application on wheat crop recorded 21.54 ×10³/ha net returns along with 1.33 benefit: cost ratio.