Impact of zinc fertilization on yield, nutrient concentration and uptake of zero tilled wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

A field experiment was conducted during the (rabi) season 2018-19 and 2019-20 at student research farm of Khalsa College, Amritsar to find out the effect of soil and foliar application of ZnSO4.7H2O on zero till wheat. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with three replications and consisted of control (no Zn), soil application of 12.5, 25, 37.5, 50 kg/ha zinc sulphate heptahydrate (ZnSO4.7H2O) and foliar application of 0.5% Zn as one spray at heading initiation (5% ear formation), one spray at 100% heading (complete ear formation) and two sprays at heading initiation and 100% heading with recommended dose of fertilizer. Soil application of 50 kg Zn/ha with two foliar sprays of zinc 0.5 % at heading initiation and 100% heading (T13) produced highest yield attributes and grain yield. The percent increase in grain yield was 33.1, 31.3 and 25.5 with T13, T10 and T7 over control (3.92 t/ha). Grain Zn content percent increase was 33.9, 32.3 and 30.8 with T13 (41.77 ppm) T10 (41.29 ppm) and T7 (40.80 ppm) over control (31.20 ppm). The concentration of N, P and K were recorded statistically identical in different zinc treatments. However, significant increase in N, P, K and Zn uptake was recorded and highest uptake was observed with treatment T13 soil application of 50 kg Zn/ha with two foliar sprays of zinc 0.5 % at heading initiation and 100% heading. T13 also gave higher net returns (68743 ₹/ha) than control (42448 ₹/ha).