KHATERA QANE*, P. S. SANGWAN, ROHTAS KUMAR, NASIR AHMAD QAZIZADAH AND RAJNI YADAV
Department of Soil Science, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125004 (Haryana), India
Herat University, Afghanistan
*(e-mail: khatereh.qane7@gmail.com)
(Received : 15 March 2024; Accepted : 30 March 2024)
SUMMARY
Wheat stands as a cornerstone of global food security. To increase its productivity as well as quality, nutrient management is one of the most important factors. To evaluate the potential contribution of micronutrients to enhancing wheat yield, an experiment was conducted to investigate the interactive effect of zinc and copper on yield and quality indicators (protein, sedimentation value) of wheat under manganese-deficient and sufficient soils in potted plants during the rabi season 2020-21. The experiment was laid out in CRD with three replications and treatments comprised of Zn and Cu levels each @ 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 mg kg-1 applied through ZnSO4 & CuSO4. The results revealed a significant increase in both grain and straw yield, as well as the quality of wheat over their respective control with the application of Zn and Cu. The highest wheat grain yield (6.24 g per pot) was achieved in soils with sufficient Mn when treated with Zn at 10.0 mg kg-1 and Cu at 10.0 mg kg-1. It was further observed that the significant increase in protein content was noticed only up to Cu7.5 when compared with Cu2.5 and a further increase in Cu level from Cu7.5 to Cu10.0 did not affect the protein content significantly in Mn-sufficient soil. The treatments with the best economic aspect were found 5.0 mg kg-1 of zinc sulfate x 7.5 mg kg-1 of copper sulfate, in terms of using less zinc and copper fertilizers and having a favorable impact on the attributes. In conclusion, the application of micronutrients like Zn and Cu should be considered an integral part of a holistic nutritional approach to support optimal wheat growth and its quality. This approach enables farmers to achieve the highest potential yield and quality in their wheat crops.
Key words: Micronutrients, wheat yield, protein, sedimentation value, Mn deficient and sufficient soil