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BIOFORTIFICATION WITH ZINC IN SPECIALITY CORN

KrishiKosh

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Title BIOFORTIFICATION WITH ZINC IN SPECIALITY CORN
 
Creator PARTHA DEBNATH
 
Contributor HEMALATHA, S
 
Subject BIOFORTIFICATION, ZINC, SPECIALITY, CORN
 
Description A field experiment entitled “Biofortification with zinc in Speciality corn” was conducted on sandy loam soils of Maize Research Center, Agricultural Research Institute, Rajendranagar during kharif, 2013 to study the effect of zinc nutrition in Speciality corn.
The experiment consisted of eighteen treatments viz., combination of three types of Speciality corn [Pop corn, Sweet corn and Quality protein maize (QPM)] and six zinc levels [Zn0: no zinc, Zn1: 12.5 kg ZnSO4 ha-1 as soil application, Zn2: 25 kg ZnSO4 ha-1 as soil application, Zn3: Zn1 + 2 Foliar sprays at tasseling and milking stage, Zn4: Zn2 + 2 Foliar sprays at tasseling and milking stage, Zn5: 2 Foliar sprays at tasseling and milking stage. A fertilizer dose of 180 kg N, 60 kg P2O5 and 50 kg K2O ha-1 was commonly applied to all the treatments, which were replicated thrice in a randomized block design.
The results revealed that three different types of corn and zinc levels were significantly influenced with respect to growth parameters like plant height, LAI, dry matter production. Taller plants and maximum LAI were observed in QPM and soil application of 25 kg ZnSO4 ha-1 along with two foliar sprays at tasseling and milking stage improved the plant height and LAI. In Sweet corn soil application of 25 kg ZnSO4 ha-1 along with two foliar sprays at tasseling and milking stage improved the dry matter production. Tasseling and silking were delayed in QPM and Pop corn compared to Sweet corn. Soil application of ZnSO4 also delayed tasseling and silking.
Sweet corn registered significantly higher number of cobs, longer cobs and maximum cob girth compared to QPM and Pop corn. Number of grain rows per cob of Pop corn were superior to QPM and Sweet corn. Number of grains per row of QPM was significantly superior over Pop corn and Sweet corn. Green cob yield of Sweet corn was significantly high and highest and lowest grain yields were recorded with QPM and Pop corn respectively. Likewise Sweet corn produced maximum green fodder yield compared to stover yield of QPM and Pop corn. Soil application of 25 kg ZnSO4 ha-1 along with two foliar sprays at tasseling and milking stage recorded significantly higher number of cobs, longer cobs and maximum cob girth, number of grain rows per cob, number of grains per row, grain yield/ green cob yield, stover yield/ green fodder yield
compared to all other zinc treatments. Harvest index of Sweet corn was maximum (44.05%) compared to QPM (42.06%) and Pop corn (38.80%). Higher harvest index (41.74%) was produced with soil application of ZnSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1 along with two foliar sprays, while lowest is with no zinc (41.30%).
Protein content of grain was significantly improved in QPM followed by Pop corn and Sweet corn. Starch content was maximum in Sweet corn followed by QPM and Pop corn. Significantly higher quality parameters like protein, starch, (sucrose and moisture for Sweet corn) contents were recorded in combined application of 25 kg ha-1 ZnSO4 as soil with two foliar sprays compared to all other Zn levels.
Nutrient uptake (N, P, K) by stover was maximum in QPM and in higher dose of ZnSO4 (25 kg ha-1 as soil + 2 foliar sprays) where as nutrient uptake by grain was maximum in Sweet corn. Higher zinc uptake and zinc concentration in plant (leaves) was noticed with QPM and in case of grain zinc uptake is more with Sweet corn and zinc content in QPM. Among the six zinc levels maximum zinc content and zinc uptake was noticed with 25 kg ZnSO4 ha-1 along with 2 foliar sprays at tasseling and milking stage (Zn4) both for plant (leaves) and grain.
Gross returns, net returns and B:C ratio was superior with Sweet corn and combined application of 25 kg ha-1 ZnSO4 as soil with two foliar sprays compared to all other Zn levels.
Interaction effect between types of corn and zinc levels are found non significant for all the growth, yield and uptake studies.
 
Date 2016-09-12T10:16:14Z
2016-09-12T10:16:14Z
2014
 
Type Thesis
 
Identifier http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/76396
 
Language en
 
Relation D9658;
 
Format application/pdf
 
Publisher ACHARYA N.G. RANGA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, RAJENDRANAGAR, HYDERABAD