Influence of humic substance enriched with micronutrients on micronutrients content and uptake by maize

Abstract

This investigation aimed to improve the fertilizer value of humic acid by enriching with selected micronutrients and there by to increase the growth and yield of maize. It was conducted during Kharif 2017 at College of Agriculture, Vishweshwaraiah Canal Farm, Mandya. The design followed was RCBD with ten treatments replicated thrice. The humic substance required for the experiment was extracted using 0.1 N NaOH from FYM with and without micronutrients and designated as enriched humic substance (EHS) and humic substance (HS), respectively. EHS and HS was tested at two levels i.e., 2.5 and 5 litres ha-1 at basal and 30 DAS combinations. The results revealed that among the different treatments, T10 treatment (T2 + Enriched HS @ 5 L ha-1 30 DAS) recorded significantly higher total Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu content (272.31, 140.19, 60.37 and 22.98 mg kg-1, respectively). Whereas lower Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu content was recorded for the treatment with RDF alone (T1). Significantly higher Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu uptakes (2713.50, 1426.24, 554.38 and 218.68g ha-1, respectively) were observed for T10 treatment (T2 + Enriched HS @ 5 L ha-1 30 DAS) over all other treatments. Whereas lower Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu uptakes (2043.94, 901.07, 267.71 and 119.19 g ha-1, respectively) were recorded for the treatment with RDF alone (T1).