EFFECT OF FOLIAR APPLICATION OF ZINC ON YIELD OF WHEAT GROWN UNDER WATER STRESS CONDITION

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out to study the effect of foliar application of zinc on growth and yield of wheat (BARI goni-25) grown under water stress condition in the research fann of the Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU), during October 2013 [0 February 2014. The experiment was designed in randomized complete block with factor A (representing irrigation) and factor B (as foliar Zn application). There were in total 16 treatments comprising 4 irrigation treatments (regular irrigation, skipped irrigation at crown root initiation. skipped irrigation at booting stage and skipped irrigation at beading and flowering stage of growth) and four foliar application of zinc (control, 0.02%, 0.04% and 0.06% of zinc). Zinc Sulphate Monohydrate (ZnS04.HzO) was used as a sourc-e of Zn. The interaction effect of irrigation and foliar application of zinc on yield components of wheat was significant. The highest yield (2.90 t ba-I) was recorded in skipping irrigation at flowering and heading stage with 0.06% foliar application of zinc. Water stress at crown root initiation stage had the most negative effect on growth and yield. Skipping irrigation at booting stage and skipping irrigation at Ilowering and beading stage with 0.04% foliar application of zinc gave the identical yield in regular with control 0.04% and 0.06% foliar application of zinc. Thus, foliar application of zinc played a major role on yield and yield components of wheat at later stages of growth, The optimum dose was appeared as 0.04% foliar application of zinc for grain yield of wheat.