Effect of zinc application on productivity, nutrient uptake and economics of wheat (Triticum aestivum) varieties under different sowing conditions

摘要

A field experiment was conducted during the winter seasons of 2013-14 and 2014-15 at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, to study the effects of sowing time and zinc application on productivity, nutrient uptake and economics of wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) emend. Fiori & Paol.] varieties. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design, replicated thrice with sowing times (normal and very late) and wheat varieties ('HD 2967', 'WR 544' and 'HD 3059') in mainplots and ZnS04.7H20application (control; 25 kg/ha soil application, 3 foliar sprays @ 0.5% at boot, anthesis and grain-filling stage; 25 kg/ha soil application + 1 foliar spray @ 0.5% at anthe-sis) in subplots. Very late sowing reduced the yield attributes, grain and strawyields (9.2 and 29.1%), total N, P, K, Zn uptake, net returns (22.9%) and benefit: cost ratio (23.3%) of wheat. 'HD 2967' wheat gave higher grain and straw yields and showed higher total N, P, Zn uptake, net returns and benefit: cost ratio. However, itshowed the highest grain yield reduction (18%) with the late planting. Application of Zn did not significantly alter yield attributes, grain and straw yields, net returns and benefit: cost ratio, though this treatment increased the total N, K and Zn uptake (6.8, 5.4, and 9.9% respectively) over the control under 1.45 mg/kg soil available Zn.