Effect of source and methods of zinc application on corn productivity, nitrogen and zinc concentrations and uptake by high quality protein corn (<i>Zea mays</i>)

Abstract

Results of a field study conducted at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India showed that the combined application of soil + foliar (in two sprays at tasseling and initiation of flowering) produced significantly more grain and stover yields than either soil or foliar applications alone. Application of Zn-coated urea was better than soil application of Zn sulphate with regard to grain and stover yields. The combined application also recorded the highest Zn concentration in corn grain as well as in stover, with the treatments falling in the following order: combined ˃ foliar ˃ soil through Zn-coated urea ˃ soil. This is an important finding for the agronomic biofortification of Zn in corn.Keywords: Crude protein; foliar application of zinc, zinc biofortification, zinc-coated urea, zinc sulphate