Micronutrient Status of Soil and Yield of Maize and Wheat as Influenced by Micronutrient and Farmyard Manure Application

A field experiment was conducted on a Fatehpur loamy sand soil (Ustipsamments) deficient in Zn, Cu, B and marginal to adequate in Mo, Fe and Mn. Farmyard manure (FYM) and micronutrients applied to soil resulted in marked and significant increase in the micronutrients availability. Significant response of maize and wheat to both soil and foliar application of micronutrients was noticed, in both the treatments with and without FYM except maize which did not respond to the foliar application of B and Mo and soil application of B in the absence of FYM. Maize crop responded maximum to Zn and Cu and wheat to Mo, Fe, Mn and Zn. The magnitude of maize grain response to applied micronutrients was higher (2.8–15.7 q/ha) than that of wheat grain (0.5 to 7.5 q/ha). The response was higher in treatments that received FYM as compared to those that did not. Soil applied micronutrients were superior as compared to their foliar application.