Effect of foliar sprays of micronutrients on plant growth and yield of lentil under rainfed condition of Uttarakhand hills

A field experiment was conducted during 2015–16 at VCSG Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry, Ranichauri, Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India to study the effect of micronutrients on growth and yield of lentil (Var VL 126) under rainfed conditions of Uttarakhand hills. The experiment consisted of eight treatments viz. T0-RDF (N: P: K-20: 40: 20 kg ha⁻¹), T1-RDF+ Zn 50 ppm, T2-RDF+ Zn 100 ppm, T3-RDF+ Fe 50 ppm, T4-RDF+ Fe 100 ppm, T5-RDF+ B 50 ppm, T6-RDF+ B 100 ppm and T7-RDF+ Zn+ Fe+ B (50 ppm each) laid out in randomized block design with three replications. The data indicated that RDF+ Fe 50 ppm recorded significantly higher plant height, plant spread and number of nodules per plant. Seed yield was recorded maximum under RDF+ Fe 50 ppm which was statistically on par with RDF+ B 50 ppm. There was 33% increase in seed yield in RDF+ Fe 50 ppm than the RDF. B: C ratio also registered maximum in RDF+ Fe 50 ppm.