Influence of zinc and iron bio-fortification on growth and yield of annual cereal fodder crops

Abstract

A field study was conducted during kharif 2019 at Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, SouthernRegional Research Station, Dharwad, Karnataka, under rainfed conditions in red loamy soil in split plot design with threereplications. Three annual cereal fodder crops (Fodder maize, sorghum and bajra) were in main plot and ten bio-fortificationtreatments in sub plots. Fodder maize (African tall) recorded significantly higher green fodder yield (42.4 t ha-1) followedby fodder sorghum var. SSV 74 (39.4 t ha-1). Fodder bajra (BAIF) recorded lower green fodder yield (35.6 t ha-1). Among bio-fortification treatments all the three crops responded to application of their respective RDF + 20 kg ZnSO4+ 20 kg FeSO4ha-1 as basal + 1% ZnSO4+1% FeSO4 as foliar spray at 45 DAS. This treatment combination recorded significantly highergreen fodder yield (43.7 t ha-1), number of leaves per plant (14.2), leaf area (576.2 cm plant-1), fresh biomass (196.8 g plant-1)and total dry matter production (79.2 g plant-1) and resulted in higher net returns. Application of RDF alone without zincand iron recorded lower growth, yield and economics. Fodder maize with application of RDF (100:60:40 N:P2O5: K2O kgha-1 ) + 20 kg ZnSO4+ 20 kg FeSO4 ha-1 as basal + 1% ZnSO4+1% FeSO4 as foliar spray at 45 DAS recorded significantlyhigher green fodder yield (47.4 t ha-1) and also resulted in higher gross returns ( 1, 18,611 ha-1), net returns ( 68,597 ha-1) andB:C ratio (2.37) with good nutritional quality as compared to other treatment combinations. Fodder bajra with applicationof RDF (80:40:40 N:P2O5: K2O kg ha-1 ) alone recorded lower yield and economics.