Journal of Environmental Biology

Optimizing zinc foliar spray for zinc fortification and

yield improvement in wheat

U. Singh^1,2*, J. Dong¹, C. Jian¹ and K.K. Hazra^3,4

¹Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology in Southern China, College of Agronomy, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing-210 095, China

²Department of Agronomy, Agriculture University, Jodhpur-342 304, India

³Agricultural and Food Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur-721 302, India

⁴Division of Crop Production, ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur-208 024, India

*Corresponding Author Email : singhummed@yahoo.co.in

Received: 10.06.2021                                                                                                 Revised: 28.09.2021                                                                             Accepted: 19.01.2022

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the field efficacy of foliar applied Zn at variable doses and time of application for enriching Zn concentration in different milling fractions of wheat grain and Zn loading capacity of different grain milling fractions.

Methodology: A field experiment was carried out involving four graded Zn sprays (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4%) with water-spray as control, applied at flowering stage of wheat crop at weekly intervals.Harvested wheat grains were pearled into nine fractions from the surface to the center using two rice polishers (JNMJ7 and JNMJ6). The rice polishers were able to separate the wheat grain fractions. Zinc concentration in the whole grain and grain fractions (layer 1 to layer 9) of wheat samples were digested with di-acid mixture and estimated on an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer.

Results: Foliar application of Zn (0.3-0.4% Zn) at 14 or 21 days after flowering (DAF) increased Zn in whole grain by 15.3-17.0 mg kg^-1 (p < 0.05). Zn spray enhanced Zn concentration in all the grain layers i.e. 1^st to 9^th layers (L), albeit in endosperm layers (L₃-L₈) by a maximum of 10.8 mg kg^-1. However, Zn loading capacity differed in different fractions and was in the order L₈>L₆>L₇>L₅≥ L₄≥L₃ (p < 0.05).

Interpretation: Foliar spray of Zn in wheat with optimum dose (0.3-0.4%) and time (14-21 DAF) can enhance Zn acquisition and loading to grain endosperm with a higher yield.

Key words: Foliar spray, Grain yield, Wheat, Zinc biofortification

Copyright © 2022 Triveni Enterprises. All rights reserved. No part of the Journal can be reproduced in any form without prior permission. Responsibility regarding the authenticity of the data, and the acceptability of the conclusions enforced or derived, rest completely with the author(s).