Effects of zinc and boron on yield, nodulation and nutrient contents of fieldpea in terrace soils

Abstract

An experiment was conducted for two consecutive years (2014-15 and 2015-16) in the field of Pulses Research Sub-Station, BARI, Gazipur during rabi (winter) season to evaluate the effect of zinc (Zn) and boron (B) application on the yield, nodulation and nutrient content of fieldpea (Pisum sativum L.). There were 16 treatment combinations comprising four levels each of zinc (0, 1, 2 and 3 kg ha^-1) and boron (0, 1, 1.5 and 2 kg ha^-1) along with a blanket dose of N₁₂ P₁₈ K₃₀ S₁₀ kg ha^-1 over the treatments. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications. Zinc (Zn) as ZnSO₄.7H₂O and boron (B) as H₃BO₃ were applied to the crop (cv. BARI Fieldpea^-1). Results showed that the combination of Zn₃B1.5 kg ha-1 produced the highest seed yield (1582 kg ha^-1) in the 1^st year and the Zn₃B₂ kg ha-1 gave the highest yield (1702 kg ha^-1) in the 2^nd year.The lowest seed yield was found in the control (Zn₀B₀). The Zn₃B₂ demonstrated the highest nodulation and nutrient and protein contents. The results suggest that the application of Zn₃B₂ kg ha-1 along with N₁₂ P₁₈ K₃₀ S₁₀ kg ha^-1 can support the higher yield of fieldpea in terrace soils of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 43(3): 441-451, September 2018