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Foliar Application of Combined Zinc Sulphate, Ferrous Sulphate and Urea has Synergistic Effect on Grain Yield Enhancement and Biofortification in Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.)

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Abstract

The present study investigated the effect of foliar application of zinc (Zn) + iron (Fe), Zn + Fe + urea, and sole urea at flowering, pod formation and flowering + pod formation stages on grain yield and agronomic biofortification of lentil. Further, urea was sprayed sole as well as combined application to study its role in agronomic biofortification. Field experiments were conducted at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana and PAU Regional Research Station (RRS), Faridkot, India during the winter season of 2018–19 and 2019–20 in randomized complete block design. The experiment comprised ten treatments [control (unsprayed), foliar application of sole urea (2%), Zn (0.5% ZnSO4) + Fe (0.5% FeSO4) and Zn + Fe + urea at flowering, pod formation, and flowering + pod formation stages] with three replications. The treatment of combined foliar application of micronutrients (Zn + Fe + urea at flowering + pod formation stages) recorded the highest grain yield (29.4% higher over unsprayed control), concentration of Zn and Fe in plants and in stover and grain (61.97 mg Zn kg-1 and 95.84 mg Fe kg-1 in whole grain and 37.75 mg Zn kg-1 and 51.15 mg Fe kg-1 in split grain) and protein content in grain at maturity stage. The combined foliar application of Zn + Fe + urea can be done to improve productivity and enrichment of lentil and, therefore, it can help in upliftment of economic status of farmers and help in amelioration of micronutrients malnutrition.

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Funding

This study was funded by the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004, Punjab, India

    Amandeep Kaur

  2. Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004, Punjab, India

    Guriqbal Singh

  3. Regional Research Station, Punjab Agricultural University, Faridkot, 151203, Punjab, India

    Kuldeep Singh

  4. Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004, Punjab, India

    Salwinder Singh Dhaliwal

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  1. Amandeep Kaur
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Correspondence to Guriqbal Singh.

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Kaur, A., Singh, G., Singh, K. et al. Foliar Application of Combined Zinc Sulphate, Ferrous Sulphate and Urea has Synergistic Effect on Grain Yield Enhancement and Biofortification in Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.). J Soil Sci Plant Nutr 24, 1083–1095 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-024-01612-4

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