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Evaluating the Effect of Zinc Application Methods on Growth and Yield of Wheat Cultivars

Muhammad Ilyas1,2*, Imran Khan2*, Muhammad Umer Chattha2, Muhammad Umair Hassan2, Muhammad Zain3, Wajid Farhad4, Sana Ullah1, Ateeq Shah5, Safeer Ahmed6, Bismillah Khan1 and Muhammad Adeel1

1University College of Dera Murad Jamali Naseerabad (LUAWMS)-80700, Pakistan; 2Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad-38040, Pakistan; 3Key Laboratory of Crop Water Use and Regulation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Farmland Irrigation Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Science (CAAS), Xinxiang, Henan 453003, PR China; 4Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences-90150, Pakistan; 5Department of Plant Science, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada; 6Department of Horticulture, Balochistan Agriculture College Quetta-87100, Pakistan.

 

ABSTRACT

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a widespread problem across the globe and it is negatively affecting the growth and productivity of the wheat crop. Therefore, a field study was conducted to determine effect of various Zn application methods on the growth and yield of wheat cultivars during the growing season 2014-2015. The study was comprised of three cultivars of wheat; Galaxy-2014, Punjab-2011 and Millat-2011 and Zn application methods; seed priming @ 0.4% Zn solution, soil application @ 40 kg ZnSO4. H2O ha-1 foliar spray @ 0.5% Zn solution at vegetative stage and combination of all three methods (seed priming, foliar and soil application) were used. The study was conducted in a randomized complete block design with a factorial arrangement having three replications. The combined application of Zn (seed priming, foliar and soil application) resulted in maximum leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), productive tillers (302.33 m2), spike length (8.62 cm), spikelet/spike (16.66), grains/spike (39.18), thousand grain weight (40.27 g), biological (11.42 t ha-1) and grain yield (5.12 t ha-1), whereas the minimum LAI, CGR, tillers (261.89 m2), spike length (7.74 cm), spikelet/spike (15.11), grains/spike (32.76), thousand grain weight (33.99 g), biological yield (10.55 t ha-1) and grain yield (4.35 t ha-1), were noticed in control. Among the wheat cultivars, Galaxy-2014 performed better than the Punjab-2011 and Millat-2011 in terms of growth and yield components. In conclusion, Zn application (seed priming, foliar and soil application) can be an imperative approach to improve the growth and productivity of wheat crop under semi-arid regions.

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Journal of Innovative Sciences

December

Vol.9, Iss.2, Pages 192-241

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