Foliar nutrition: A sustainable way for productivity enhancement in pulses

Abstract

Pulses, recognized as climate-smart crops, are vital for global food and nutritional security, yet productivity remains constrained by biotic, abiotic, socio-economic, and physiological factors. One of the main reason for productivity decline is that they are grown as rainfed crops on marginal lands with minimum inputs. Fertilizer management is imperative in such soils where the soil application of nutrients alone cannot met the nutrient requirement. The foliar application of macro and micronutrients directly to leaf surfaces is a quick and effective way to significantly improve the growth, yield attributes, quality, nutrient uptake, and stress resilience in pulses, particularly under rainfed conditions where soil moisture is limiting. The integration of conventional water-soluble fertilizers, secondary nutrients, and novel nano-fertilizers not only accelerates nutrient availability and uptake but also enhances photosynthetic rates and dry matter accumulation Adoption of organic foliar sprays further supports fertilizer savings, profitability, and increases in quality indices and net returns. Nano-fertilizer-based foliar strategies, leveraging controlled-release kinetics and higher leaf penetration, represent an emerging avenue for nutrient use efficiency and resilience against climate variability. The foliar nutrition is a promising, cost-effective approach for addressing yield gaps and securing the future of pulse production within sustainable agri-food systems.