Effect of Various Sources of Zinc and Iron on Grain Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Quality Parameters of Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif 2018 at College Farm, College of Agriculture, PJTSAU to evaluate the effect of various sources of zinc and iron on grain yield, nutrient uptake and grain quality parameters of finger millet. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with 14 treatments and replicated thrice.The results revealed that application of different Zinc and iron sources at different rates significantly influenced the grain yield, nutrient (N, P and K) uptake and grain quality parameters (protein and calcium content) of finger millet. Highest grain yield (3653 kg ha-1), protein (11.25%) and calcium content (2.33%) in grain were obtained in the treatment receiving RDF + foliar application of FeSO4 @ 0.5% twice at 30 and 60 DAS which was on par with treatment receiving RDF + foliar application of Fe-humate twice at 30 and 60 DAS (3612 kg ha-1, 10.90% and 2.0%) and the lowest grain yield (1995 kg ha-1), (6.25%) and calcium content (1.10%) were recorded with application of RDF alone. The nutrient uptake (N, P, K and Fe) at all the crop growth stages was significantly higher with the treatment receiving RDF (60:40:30 kg N,P2O5 and K2O kg ha-1) + foliar application of FeSO4 @ 0.5% twice at 30 and 60 DAS which was on par with treatment receiving RDF+ foliar application of Fe-humate twice at 30 and 60 DAS. Highest iron uptake was recorded in treatment receiving RDF+foliar application of FeSO4 @ 0.5% twice at 30 and 60 DAS which was on par with T8, T14 treatments.The highest nutrient uptake of Zinc was obtained in treatment receiving RDF + Zn Humate foliar spray @ 0.25% twice at 30 and 60 days after sowing which was on par with treatment receiving RDF + Zn Humate soil  application. Contrary to the grain yield, nutrient uptake, protein and calcium content there were no significant differences between treatments with respect to Zn, Fe and carbohydrate content in grain.