Effect of foliar application of zinc on yield of wheat grown by avoiding irrigation at different growth stages

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at micronutrient experimental field of Soil Science Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur to study the effect of foliar application of zinc on yield of wheat (BARI gom-25) grown by skipping irrigation at different growth stages of the crop. The experiment was designed in a split plot design on sixteen treatments comprising four irrigation treatments (regular irrigation, skipped irrigation at crown root initiation, skipped irrigation at booting stage and skipped irrigation at grain filling stages of wheat growth) and four foliar application of zinc (0.0%, 0.02%, 0.04% and 0.06% of zinc). Zinc Sulphate Monohydrate (ZnSO₄. H₂O) was used as a source of Zn. The interaction effect of irrigation and foliar application of zinc significantly influenced the yield and yield components of wheat. The highest yield (5.59 t ha^-1) was recorded in normal irrigation which was identical with skipping irrigation at flowering and heading stage with 0.06% foliar application of zinc. Skipping irrigation at crown root initiation stage had the most negative effect on growth and yield. Skipping irrigation at flowering and heading stage of wheat with 0.04% foliar application of zinc gave the identical yield in regular irrigation with 0.04% and 0.06% foliar application of zinc. Thus, foliar application of zinc played a major role on yield and yield components of wheat at later stages of growth. The response of foliar application of Zn was positive and quadrate in nature. The optimum dose was appeared as 0.04% foliar application of zinc for grain yield of wheat in the study area of Joydebpur, Gazipur (AEZ-28).

Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 41(2): 323-334, June 2016