Comparative effects of foliar and soil applications of zinc on growth and yield of wheat

Zinc applied both foliar and soil treatment significantly increased plant height at flag leaf and harvesting stages, while there was a non-significant effect at tillering stage. Foliar application @ 0.30% Zn and soil added Zn @ 5.00 Kg per ha had non-significant difference, followed by foliar Zn @ 0.25 % and 0.20% treatments at flag leaf and harvesting stages. However, soil-applied Zn gave the maximum height at tillering stage. Tillers per plant, spike length, and number of spikelets spike-1 all increased by increasing zinc levels, however 0.30 % Zn and soil applied Zn resulted better than other treatments. The data regarding 1000 grains weight revealed that foliar applied zinc @ 0.30 % gave significant values of 36.31 g, followed by 35.62 g of soil added zinc, where as control recorded the minimum 33.72 g. Grain, straw and biological yield performed significant increase of 12.86%, 11.40% and 12.01% respectively over control, with foliar zinc application of 0.30%. Increase of 4.00%, 3.12% and 3.43% in grain, straw and biological yield over soil applied Zn also noted for the same treatment. Non-significant effect of soil and foliar applied zinc was observed on the harvest index of wheat. Foliar, as well as, soil zinc application had significant effect on nitrogen and protein content of wheat. Highest values were recorded where zinc was applied @ 0.30% as foliar application. While a non-significant effect on phosphorus content was observed either by soil or foliar application of zinc. However, treatment received soil application of zinc recorded the minimum phosphorus content. Zinc content of grain and straw significantly increased by increasing zinc levels of foliar applied zinc. Foliar applied zinc @ 0.30 % recorded maximum values in both grain and straw as compared to soil applied zinc and rest of the treatments. It was observed that grain accumulated more zinc than straw. An out standing VCR (value cost ratio) of 14.73 was recorded for T6 which clearly differentiated zinc level of 0.30% of foliar application from soil application of zinc (T7), which recorded the lowest value of 3.86. Thus, foliar zinc application of 0.30 % proved to be economically profitable. It can be concluded that wheat responded foliar zinc application up to the maximum level of 0.30 %. Foliar zinc application proved to be the best fertilization practice for getting economically profitable yield, as compared to soil application. It is suggested that foliar application @ 0.30% should be used in three equal splits at 30, 40, and 50 days after sowing, for getting economically profitable yield of wheat.