ARJUN LAL BIJARNIA, GHARSIRAM* AND DHARMENDRA MEENA
Assistant Professor Agrostology, Agricultural Research Station, Keshwana, Jalore (Rajasthan), India
Senior Research Fellow, Agricultural Research Station, Keshwana, Jalore (Rajasthan), India
Assistant Professor Agronomy, Agricultural Research Station, Keshwana, Jalore (Rajasthan), India
*(e-mail: loona161@gmail.com)
(Received: 14 March 2025; Accepted: 30 March 2025)
SUMMARY
Micronutrients like iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) play a crucial role in the growth and development of sorghum. This study, conducted at ARS Keshwana, Jalore, Rajasthan, aimed to evaluate the impact of foliar applications of Fe and Zn on sorghum growth and fodder yield. The experiment followed a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with nine treatments and three replications. Results indicated that foliar application of Zn and Fe significantly enhanced plant height, leaf area, stem diameter, and fodder yield, with the combined application of RDF + 0.5% ZnSO4 at 25 DAS + 0.5% FeSO4 at 35 DAS yielding the highest green and dry fodder output. The findings suggest that integrating Fe and Zn foliar applications can improve the productivity and nutritional value of sorghum, making it a viable strategy for farmers in semi-arid regions.
Key words: Fodder Sorghum. Foliar application, Iron & Zinc, Growth and Fodder yield