Effect of Zinc Application Strategies on Growth and Yield of Soybean in Central India

Fertilization of soybean with zinc (Zn) had received considerable attention in recent years due to world-wide spread of its deficiency in soils and also due to malnutrition in infants and children’s. Soybean is high nutrient exhausting crop but sensitive to zinc (Zn) deficiency in soil. Application of Zn fertilizers could be a viable option to fulfil this deficiency and also to promote yield and growth parameters. This experiment was conducted at Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur during kharif season of 2019 with fourteen treatments of zinc application strategies [(T1) Absolute control, (T2) recommended dose of fertilizer+ No Zn, (T3) RDF + 5.0 kg Zn ha-1, (T4) RDF + spray of 0.5% ZnSO4 at 35 DAS, (T5) RDF + spray of 0.5% ZnSO4 at 35 and 55 DAS, (T6) RDF + 5.0 kg Zn ha-1 + spray of 0.5% ZnSO4 at 35 DAS, (T7)  RDF + 5.0 kg Zn ha-1 + spray of 0.5% ZnSO4 at 35 and 55 DAS, (T8) RDF + Zn solubilizer as soil application, (T9) RDF + 5.0 kg Zn ha-1 + Zn solubilizer as soil application, (T10) RDF + Spray of 0.5% ZnSO4 and 150 ppm salicylic acid at 35 DAS, (T11) RDF + spray of 0.5% ZnSO4 and 150 ppm salicylic acid at 35 and 55 DAS, (T12) RDF + 5.0 kg Zn ha-1 + spray of 0.5% ZnSO4 and 150 PPM salicylic acid at 35 DAS, (T13) RDF + 5.0 kg Zn ha-1 + spray of 0.5% ZnSO4 and 150 ppm salicylic acid at 35 and 55 DAS and (T14) No RDF + 5.0 kg Zn ha-1] which were replicated three times in randomized block design(RBD). Results showed that growth parameters, yield attributes and yield of soybean were significantly affected by zinc application strategies. It was found that treatment of RDF + 5.0 kg Zn ha-1 + spray of 0.5% ZnSO4 + 150 ppm salicylic acid at 35 and 55 DAS (T13) had been found best in terms of growth, yield attributes and yield of soybean.