Performance of Eight High Yielding Wheat Varieties in Some Zinc Deficient Soils of Uttar Pradesh and Their Response to Zinc Amendments in Pot Culture

Compared to wheat varieties Sonora 64 and Sharbati Sonora the varieties Lerma Rojo, Chhoti Lerma, Safed Lerma and Lai Bahadur showed poor performance on zinc deficient ‘tarai’ soils of Pantnagar, district Nainital and alluvial soils of Azamgarh and Lucknow districts. Performance of varieties Kalyan Sona and Sonalika varied in these soils. In Azamgarh soils both the varieties showed luxuriant growth but in Lucknow and Pantnagar soils var. Kalyan Sona performed better than Sonalika, the latter showing severe symptoms of zinc deficiency in Pantnagar soils. Tissue zinc in plants was a function af availability of zinc in soils. Zinc amendment in soils improved growth, prevented the onset of zinc deficiency symptoms and increased tissue concentration afzinc and dry weight and grain yield af plants. Response to zinc application was not related to varietal susceptibility to zinc deficiency.