Division of Agronomy, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Delhi
The response of hybrid maize varieties—Ganga 101 and Texas 26— to application of magnesium, zinc and other micronutrients has been reported. Soil application of 5–6 kg of zinc sulphate per ha in conjunction with NPK, magnesium and other micronutrients gave 18 to 32 per cent increase in yield over NPK alone. Under conditions of restricted drainage, zinc fertilization meant virtually the difference between success and failure of the crop. The soil application of zinc as well as other micronutrients was found to be superior to foliar application, seed soaking and seed coating. Application of magnesium with NPK not only benefitted the maize crop but also resulted in significant increase in the yield of the following wheat. Molybdenum did not have much effect on yield but increased the protein content of the maize grain.
