Effect of Boron and Zinc Application on Nutrient Uptake in Guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. Pant Prabhat Leaves.

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to assess the influence of boron and zinc application on the nutrient status of guava cv. Pant Prabhat under tarai conditions at the foothills of the Himalayas. Boron and zinc were applied as foliar spray at four different concentrations viz. ZnSO4 @ 0% (control), 0.50%, 0.75% and 1.0% and H3BO3 @ 0% (control), 0.50%, 0.75% and 1.0%, respectively alone and in combinations. During both the years in the month of October, leaf N content was affected significantly. The maximum leaf N contents (2.38 % and 2.18 %) were recorded with the application of ZnSO4 (1.0%) + H3BO3 (1.0%). However, zinc and boron spray had non-significant effect on leaf P and K content in the month of July and October, respectively during both the years. Leaf zinc content increased significantly after the foliar application of various concentrations of ZnSO4. Maximum leaf zinc content (161.08 and 161.95 ppm) was obtained with ZnSO4 (1.0%) and ZnSO4 (1.0%) + H3BO3 (1%) spray, respectively in July (after spray). After rainy season crop, maximum leaf zinc content (143.19 and 144.43 ppm) was observed with 1.0% ZnSO4 spray. While, after winter season crop, various concentrations of zinc and boron had non-significant on zinc content. However, various concentrations of zinc positively influenced the leaf zinc content with higher concentrations of zinc and boron. However, after winter season crop, non-significant differences were recorded. Boron content increased significantly with the increase in boron concentration during both the years of investigation but the interaction was non-significant. Maximum boron content (116.85 and 118.35 ppm) was observed after ZnSO4 (0.75%) + H3BO3 (1.0%) foliar spray. However, after harvesting of rainy season crop, boron content of leaves differed significantly with various levels of boron concentration. The maximum boron content (107.32 ppm) was observed in ZnSO4 (1.0%) + H3BO3 (1.0%). These findings indicated that ZnSO4 (1.0%) + H3BO3 (1.0%) significantly influenced the N, Zn and B concentrations in the leaves of guava cv. Pant Prabhat. However, zinc and boron spray at various concentrations had nonsignificant effect on leaf P and K content.