Zinc Response to Oilseed Crops

摘要

Oilseed crops are mostly cultivated raider rainfed conditions in India. Greater parts of these soils are found deficient (49%) in Zinc (Zn). A reason for the low average productivity (960 kg/ha) of oilseed crops is the cultivation of these crops in marginal to low fertile soils. Zinc uptake in oilseed crops ranged between 46 to 16S g/t. Average response of Zn to oilseed crops diverged from 1.1-3.8 kg/ha. Among the diverse sources of Zn, application of zinc sulphate @ 10 to 25 kg/ha depending on the soil type and oilseed crop were found superior and effective in attaining higher seed yield. The additional seed yields at an optimum rate of ZnSO4 application to groundnut, mustard, soybean and sunflower varied from 120 to 260,210 to 470,330 to 470 and 240 kg, respectively. Residual effect of Zn to the succeeding oilseed crop was also observed in various oilseed based cropping systems in different soil types. In soils and oilseed crops, beneficial effect of Zn interactions with other essential nutrients was found additive and synergistic. And only at higher levels of Zn application some antagonism was noticed. State-wise and crop-wise recommendations of Zn with the other nutrients relating to Zn are presented. Challenges in Zn nutrient management and future thrust areas are identified and offered.