Effect of zinc and iron on growth and yield of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.)

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted during Kharif season of 2020 at Sri Aurobindo Institute of Rural Development Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Gaddipally, Garidepally, Suryapet, Telangana. The soil of the experimental field is sandy loam in texture, nearly neutral in soil reaction (pH 7.4), the available N, P, K fertilizer is applied along with micronutrients of Zinc and Iron. The treatment ofRDF + 0.5% ZnSO4 Foliar spray at 25 and 45 DAS, viz. whose effect is observed on Sorghum (var. PSV-56). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with nine treatments replicated thrice. The treatment with RDF + 0.5% ZnSO4 foliar spray at 25 and 45 DAS found significantly higher in Plant height (164.53 cm), dry weight (44.67 g/plant), crop growth rate (23.00 g/m2/plant), more number of effective tillers/plant and ears/plant were as compared to other treatments. Maximum number of grains/ear (844.38) and Grain yield (4433.33 kh/ha) were found significantly higher with the application of treatment RDF + 0.5% ZnSO4 foliar spray at 25 and 45 DAS and Test weight (32.6g) were found significantly higher with the application of treatment RDF + 0.5% ZnSO4 foliar spray at 45 DAS as compared to other treatments. Maximum Gross return (Rs.112086.00/ha), Net return (Rs.75703.40/ha) and B: C ratio (2.08) were recorded in treatment with application of treatment RDF + 0.5% ZnSO4 foliar spray at 25 and 45 DAS.