Soybean productivity as influenced by foliar application of nutrients

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Birsa Agricultural University experimental farm (Kanke), Ranchi, Jharkhand for three consecutive years during kharif season of 2015, 2016 and 2017. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with nine treatments replicated thrice. Treatment comprised of foliar application of nutrients along with recommended dose of fertilizer i.e. water spray, urea 2% spray, DAP 2% spray, MOP 0.5% spray, 19:19:19 (N: P2O5:K20) 2% spray, molybdenum 0.1% spray, boron 0.5% spray, zinc chelated 0.5% spray and RDF only. All the foliar applications were done at pod initiation stage of soybean and RDF (20:80:40 kg NPK/ha) was applied as basal at the time of sowing. Results clearly indicated that productivity of soybean was significantly influenced by foliar application of nutrients and foliar application of 19:19:19 (NPK) @ 2% along with RDF at pod initiation stage of soybean recorded highest grain yield (2189 kg /ha) which was significantly better than all the treatments except application of 2% urea along with RDF at pod initiation stage. Net return and benefit cost ratio was also significantly influenced by foliar application of nutrients and maximum net return (`40008) and B: C ratio (1.83) was recorded in application of 2% urea along with recommended dose of fertilizers.