Physiological assessment of iron and zinc biofortification on growth and yield parameters of sweet corn

Abstract

Field experiment was carried out during kharif 2017 and 2018 in black soil at farmer field at Kumarnahally village, Huvina hadagali Tq, Bellary District representing the Northern Dry Zone (Zone-II) which is located at latitude of 15.04’ N, longitude of 75.94' E and 561 meters which is above mean sea level to study the physiological assessment of iron and zinc biofortification on growth and yield parameters of sweet corn (Zea mays L. Saccharata) to evaluate and analysis of sweet corn through biofortification to achieve higher growth and yield parameters. Pooled data both years indicated that seed treatment with ZnSO4 @ 0.5 % + FeSO4 @ 0.5 % and foliar spray of ZnSO4 @ 1.0 % + FeSO4 @1.0 % recorded significantly higher total dry matter (196.3, 203.8 and 200.1 g plant-1 at 30, 60 DAS and at harvest, respectively) and also higher photosynthetic rate (17.2, 33.5 and 32.7 µ mol CO2 m-2 s-1 at 30, 60 DAS and at harvest respectively. Similarly Fresh cob yield was noticed with seed treatment by ZnSO4 @ 0.5 % & FeSO4 @ 0.5 % and foliar spray of ZnSO4 @ 1.0 % & FeSO4 @1.0 % which was on par with seed treatment with ZnSO4 @ 0.5 % + foliar spray of ZnSO4 @ 1.0 % + FeSO4 @1.0 % during the year 2017, 2018 and pooled data.