STUDIES ON IDENTIFICATION AND ENRICHMENT OF PEARLMILLET [Pennisetum glaucum (L.)] GENOTYPES WITH ZINC AND IRON THROUGH AGRONOMIC BIOFORTIFICATION

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Agricultural College Farm, Raichur, Karnataka, during kharif 2016-2017 to studies on identification and enrichment of pearlmillet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.)] genotypes with zinc and iron through agronomic biofortification, nitrogen content in grain, stover and total nitrogen content of pearlmillet genotypes, G3: HFeZn-113(high in Zn & Fe) (2.41, 1.33 and 3.74%, respectively). Among micronutrient applications M7: Soil application of ZnSO4 @ 15 kg ha-1 & FeSO4 @ 10 kg ha-1 + Foliar application of 0.5% ZnSO4 and FeSO4 each (2.71, 1.58 and 4.29%, respectively). Phosphorus content in grain, stover and total phosphorus content of pearlmillet genotypes recorded with G3: HFeZn-113 (high in Zn & Fe) (1.22, 0.15 and 1.37%, respectively). Among micronutrient applications M7: Soil application of ZnSO4 @ 15 kg ha-1 & FeSO4 @ 10 kg ha-1 + Foliar application of 0.5% ZnSO4 and FeSO4 each (2.21, 0.17 and 2.12%, respectively). Potassium content in grain, stover and total potassium content of pearlmillet genotypes, G3: HFeZn-113 (high in Zn & Fe) (0.89, 1.83 and 2.72%, respectively). Among micronutrient applications M7: Soil application of ZnSO4 @ 15 kg ha-1 & FeSO4 @ 10 kg ha-1 + Foliar application of 0.5% ZnSO4 and FeSO4 each (1.01, 1.99 and 3.01%, respectively). The concentration of zinc in grain, stover and total zinc concentration of pearlmillet genotypes G3: HFeZn-113 (high in Zn & Fe) (29.56, 38.89 and 66.45 ppm, respectively). Among micronutrients application, significantly higher zinc concentration in M7: Soil application of ZnSO4 @ 15 kg ha-1 & FeSO4 @ 10 kg ha-1 + Foliar application of 0.5% ZnSO4 and FeSO4 each (33.50, 45.39 and 78.72 ppm, respectively ). The concentration of iron in grain, stover and total iron concentration of pearlmillet genotypes, G3: HFeZn-113 (high in Zn & Fe) (177.18, 166.71 and 342.26 ppm, respectively). Among micronutrients application, significantly higher iron concentration in M7: Soil application of ZnSO4 @ 15 kg ha-1 & FeSO4 @ 10 kg ha-1 + Foliar application of 0.5% ZnSO4 and FeSO4 each (195.45, 182.18 and 377.68 ppm, respectively).