EFFECT OF FOLIAR AND SOIL APPLICATION OF ZINC ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF CHILI (Capsicum annum L.)

Abstract

The pot experiment was conducted at the open space in front of Soil Science laboratory-1 at Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU), Dinajpur-5200, during the period of August to November, 2023 to study the effect of foliar and soil application of Zn on growth and yield of chili. The experiment was laid out in a Complete Randomized Design (CRD) having twelve treatments with three replications viz T0 = F0S0, T1 = F0S2, T2 = F2S0, T3 = F1S1, T4 = F1S2, T5 = F1S3, T6 = F2S1, T7 = F2S2, T8 =F2S3, T9 =F3S1, T10 = F3S2, T11 = F3S3. The experiment consisted of two factors: Factor A: Zn application to soil (4 levels) as; (i) S0: 0 kg Zn ha-1 (ii) S1: 1 kg Zn ha-1 (iii) S2: 2 kg Zn ha-1 iv) S3: 3 Kg Zn ha-1 and Factor B: Zn application on leaf (4 levels) as; (i) F0: 0 kg Zn ha-1 (ii) F1: 1 kg Zn ha-1 (iii) F2: 2 kg Zn ha-1 iv) F3: 3Kg Zn ha-1. Chili (Longka green hybrid variety) was used as test crops. Data on growth, yield contributing characters and yields were recorded and statistically significant variations were observed for different treatments. Different levels of Zn application to soil and foliar had significant variation on growth and yield contributing parameter of green chili. Results showed that in terms of Zn effect, the highest plant height (32.83 cm) was recorded in T5 treatment at 20 DAT and 74.08, 119.3 cm in T4 treatments at 40 and 60 DAT respectively, the maximum number of leaves plant-1 (26, 96.67 and 203.7 at 20, 40 and 60 DAT, respectively and highest number of branches plant-1 (7.16, 13.71 and 14.76 at 20, 40 and 60 DAT, respectively) were recorded from T4 treatment. Again, the highest number of flowers plant-1 (36), fruits plant-1 (36.67), fruit length (11.25 cm), average fruit weight plant-1 (75.67 g) were observed from T4 treatment also. The lowest values of all the parameters were found at T0 treatment. Post-harvest soil contained higher macro elements like total N, available P, exchangeable K and available S than the initial soil. The highest value (0.160%, 59.79 ppm, 0.065 meq.100-1g soil and 13.56 ppm of total N, available P, exchangeable K and available S, respectively) were found at T4 treatment but the lowest value of total N (0.074%), available P (29.08 ppm), exchangeable K (0.055 meq.100-1g soil) and available S (4.00 ppm) were found at T0 treatment. The pH and organic matter content value varied from 5.80 to 6.68, 0.76 to 1.13%, respectively. The highest value (6.68 and 1.13% of pH and OM content, respectively) were found at T4 treatment. The lowest value (5.80 and 0.76% of pH and OM value, respectively) were found at T0 treatment. Therefore, this study suggests that the application of Zn @ 2 kg ha-1 Zn on soil along with @ 1 kg ha-1 as foliar might be an efficient practice for achieving sustainable growth and yield of chili.