&nbsp;A field experiment was conducted at Forage Research and Management Centre, NDRI, Karnal during Kharif season of 2014 and 2015 to study the effect of zinc application on productivity and quality of fodder maize. The treatment consists of two fodder maize cultivars African tall and J-1006 in main plot and six zinc sulphate treatments viz. No zinc sulphate, 10 kg/ha &nbsp;ZnSO4 as basal dose, 20 kg/ha &nbsp;ZnSO4 as basal dose, 0.5% &nbsp;one foliar spray &nbsp;of ZnSO4 at 30 DAS, 0.5% &nbsp;two foliar spray of ZnSO4 at 30 and 45 DAS and 10 kg/ha &nbsp;ZnSO4 as basal dose+0.5% &nbsp;one foliar spray at 30 DAS in subplots of split plot design. Soil and foliar applied zinc sulphate had significantly improved green fodder, dry matter yield and quality parameters viz leaf length, leaf width, leaf stem ratio of both the cultivars tested. From the results of two year study, it can be concluded that maize fodder productivity and quality can be enhanced with Zinc fertilization.

Enhancing productivity and quality of fodder maize&nbsp;through soil and foliar zinc nutrition&nbsp;

Background: In rice belts, cultivation of rice under aerobic conditions provides an alternative way to reduce the enormous amounts of water usage, by using 50 percent of the water when compared to traditional cultivation. However, micronutrient deficiencies are more common in aerobic rice during its early stages of growth. Mycorrhizal fungi were found to be efficient in mobilizing the nutrients under aerobic situations. 
 
Methods: The field experiment was conducted in Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. The experiment consisted of thirteen treatments which includes different recommended doses of VAM 50, 62.5 and 75kg ha-1 along with different combinations of foliar application of 0.5% urea, 0.5% ZnSO4 and 1% FeSO4.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The study revealed that combined application of 150 % of recommended dose of VAM and foliar application of 0.5% urea + 0.5% ZnSO4 + 1% FeSO4 at 25 and 45 DAS significantly increased the VAM colonization area, photosynthetic pigments and growth parameters such as plant height, shoot and root weight, root growth, leaf area index and yield attributes and it was found to be a better optionin rice cultivation to overcome the micronutrient deficiencies in its earlier stages under aerobic conditions.

Evaluation of Soil Applied Arbuscular mycorrhiza Along with Foliar Nutrition of Nitrogen, Iron and Zinc on, Mycorrhizal Colonization, Physiological Parameters, Growth and Yield of Rice under Aerobic Condition

<div>Background: The Zinc deficiency is a worldwide nutritional constraint for crop production in many types of soil. Appropriate application methods of Zn fertilizer are still unclear. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Zn fertilizer and application methods on the growth characteristics of Vigna unguiculata.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Zinc fertilizer and application method on photosynthetic characteristics and yield of Vigna unguiculata from June to September of 2019, in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. A pot experiment was conducted as a factorial design with 3 replications.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The application of 15 kg ZnSO4.7H2O/ha increased chlorophyll content in leaves, improved photosynthesis and increased protein content of Vigna unguiculata, when applied as foliar application as opposed to being applied in basal application. These results have important implications for guiding the rational application of Zinc fertilizer and improving the yield of Vigna unguiculata.</div>

​Effectiveness of Foliar and Soil Application of Zinc Fertilizer on Growth Characteristics of Vigna unguiculata

<div>Background: The improvement in livestock productivity may be possible by availing better quality fodder in adequate quantity to the dairy farmers. Zinc deficiency might be a major factor for lower quality fodder of cowpea. 
 
Methods: The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design; comprised of three cowpea cultivars viz., C-152, MFC-08-14 and MFC-09-1 and five zinc management practices viz., control; 10 kg ZnSO4 as basal; 20 kg ZnSO4 as basal; 0.5% ZnSO4 as foliar spray at 20 DAS; 0.5% ZnSO4 as foliar spray at 20 and 40 DAS. 
 
Result: Results revealed that C-152 showed significantly better quality in terms of higher dry matter, crude protein and total ash; and lower acid insoluble ash, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and acid detergent lignin amongst all the three varieties. Though, remarkably higher ether extract was obtained with MFC-08-14. Among the zinc management practices, 20 kg ZnSO4&nbsp;as basal (Zn3) and foliar application of 0.5% ZnSO4 at 20 and 40 DAS (Zn5) recorded significant improvement in fodder yield and quality traits of cowpea.</div>

​​Effect of Zinc Fertilization on Nutritional Quality of Cowpea Cultivars

Background: Rapid expansion in population increased the global food demand. To meet this surge in demand for food and to ensure food and nutritional security addition of pulses in the cropping system is a visible alternative. Pulses intensifies cropping intensity, enhances health and fertility status of the soil and acts as a good source of dietary protein etc. However, due to a wide gap between the potential and actual yield of pulses in rainfed areas. Hence, identification and adoption of best management practices has become a pre-requisite. The present study was undertaken as the information available on foliar nutrition and different crop geometries on performance of different blackgram genotypes in rainfed condition is meagre. 
 
Methods: In this investigation conducted during kharif&nbsp;season of 2018 at Advanced Centre for Rainfed Agriculture, SKUAST-Jammu, Rakh Dhiansar. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with 3 factors and 3 replications. The factor-1 consisted of three blackgram cultivars (Uttara, PU-31 and Mash-114), factor 2 consisted of two crop geometries (30&times;10 cm and 45&times;10 cm) and factor-3 consisted of three foliar nutrition (Foliar spray of molybdenum as sodium molybdate @ 0.1% at 20 DAS, Foliar spray of 1.5% KCl at flowering and Foliar spray of molybdenum as sodium molybdate @ 0.1% at 20 DAS fb 1.5% KCl at flowering). 
 
Result: The results from the present investigation indicated that adoption of Mash-114 at 30&times;10 cm crop geometry, supplemented with foliar application of molybdenum as sodium molybdate @ 0.1% at 20 DAS fb 1.5% KCl at flowering could be a viable technological proposition under rainfed conditions of Jammu.

Effect of Foliar Nutrition and Crop Geometry on Cultivars of Blackgram in Shiwalik Foothills of Jammu

The comparative effect of 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8% Zn levels of zinc chelate (Zn-EDTA; 8% Zn) and zinc sulfate (23% Zn) applied as foliar sprays for assuaging zinc deficiency of chickpea cv. G&ouml;k&ccedil;e was evaluated under field condition. The sprays were applied on the plants before blooming stage during 2012 and 2013 growing seasons and seed yield, yield components like plant height, pod number per plant, seed number per plant, hundred seed weight, harvest index and mineral concentrations (nitrogen, phosphorus, zinc and iron) in seeds were investigated. Plant height, pod number per plant, seed number per plant, hundred seed weight, harvest index and seed yield were investigated. The results showed that increased zinc doses caused an increase in Zn content of seed, while seed yield was not affected similarly. In general, plant height, pod number and seed number per plant increased by the application of zinc. Lower dose of Zn-EDTA and higher dose of ZnSO4 gave higher yield components. Seed weight, harvest index and seed yield were not significantly influenced by Zn sources and doses; however, mineral concentration of seeds enhanced when Zn doses were increased. It was concluded that foliar application of zinc resulted in an increase in seed mineral contents rather than seed yield of chickpea. The dose of 0.6% with Zn-EDTA was the optimum combination for Zn enrichment in seed of chickpea.&nbsp;

The optimum foliar zinc source and level for improving Zn content in&nbsp;seed of chickpea

<div>A field experiment was carried out during kharif season of 2016 and 2017 at an experimental farm of MACS Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, India to study the influence of foliar application of nutrient on growth, yield, economics, soil nutritional status and nutrient uptake of soybean crop. An experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) comprising of three replications and nine treatments. Recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) was applied as basal application to all treatments. Seven treatments consisted of different doses of nutrients as foliar application at pod initiation stage. Water spray at pod initiation stage and RDF alone were treated as control. The results revealed that, growth attributes, nodulation and its weight, morpho-physiological parameters, yield and its attributes, nutritional parameters and economics significantly differed by various foliar nutrition treatments except control and RDF + water spray. RDF + Urea 2% (3098 kg ha-1) gave significantly higher seed yield over control (2704 kg ha-1) and RDF + water spray (2686 kg ha-1) but was at par with RDF + DAP 2% (3050 kg ha-1), RDF + MOP 0.5% (2992 kg ha-1) and RDF + Molybdenum 0.5% (2955 kg ha-1). The increase in seed yield with foliar application of 2% Urea along with RDF was 14.57% over control and 15.34% over RDF + water spray. Higher net returns (Rs. 49,006/- ha-1) and benefit: cost ratio (2.23:1) was obtained in treatment RDF + Urea 2% followed by RDF + DAP 2% foliar spray. Availability of N, P and K was significantly higher with treatment RDF + Urea 2% foliar spray over control and RDF + water spray. N and P uptake by soybean plants was significantly higher in treatment RDF + 2% Urea over RDF + water spray and RDF alone (control).</div>

<div>Influence of Foliar Application of Nutrient on Growth, Yield, Economics, Soil Nutritional Status and Nutrient Uptake of Soybean</div>

<div>Background: Cowpea is a leguminous crop of indeterminate growth habit and continues to produce flowers throughout its life cycle. In order to realize the genetic yield potential of cowpea, nutrient requirements of later formed flushes also needs to be met. Hence the present study was formulated to assess the effect of foliar application of water-soluble macro nutrient fertilizers viz., NPK 19:19:19 and potassium nitrate and micronutrient fertilizers viz. zinc sulphate and solubor for yield maximization in bush vegetable cowpea. 
 
Methods: The field experiment was conducted at Coconut Research Station, Balaramapuram, during Rabi 2020-21. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with 13 treatments in three replications. The treatments comprised of recommended dose of conventional fertilizers (RDF) NPK 20:30:10 kg ha-1 as control and RDF + foliar application of water-soluble fertilizers 19:19:19 (0.5%) and potassium nitrate (0.5%) with zinc sulphate (0.05%) and solubor (0.025%) in twelve different combinations. 
 
Result: Results revealed that compared to RDF alone, RDF + foliar application of water-soluble macro and micro nutrient fertilizers at 45 DAS significantly improved the dry matter production, number of pods per plant and pod weight and recorded a yield enhancement of 22 to 55 per cent. Among the treatments, RDF + foliar application of 19:19:19 (0.5%) and solubor (0.025%) at 45 DAS recorded the highest dry matter production per plant (39.51 g), pods per plant (30.88 no.), pod yield (7410 kg ha-1), net return (82651 Rs ha-1) and B:C ratio (2.26). The treatments, RDF + foliar application of 19:19:19 (0.5%) at 45 DAS; RDF + foliar application of 19:19:19 (0.5%), zinc sulphate (0.05%) and solubor (0.025%) at 45 DAS; and RDF + foliar application of potassium nitrate (0.5%) and solubor (0.025%) at 45 DAS also recorded comparable number of pods per plant, green pod yield, net return and B:C ratio. Considering the highest green pod yield, net return and B:C ratio, RDF + foliar application of NPK 19:19:19 (0.5%) and solubor (0.025%) at 45 DAS could be recommended for yield maximization in bush type vegetable cowpea.</div>

Foliar Nutrition with Water Soluble Macro and Micro Nutrient Fertilizers for Yield Maximization in Bush Vegetable Cowpea

<div>Background: Blackgram is an important pulse crop having potential to meet up nutritional security. It is mainly grown in rice-fallow condition under receding soil moisture, thus facing moisture deficit at critical growth stages. As a consequence, this crop suffers from reduced nutrient uptake from soil that results in reduction of productivity. A suitable way to nourish the crop under such circumstances is through foliar nutrition.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: An experiment to assess the role of foliar nutrition on overall performance of spring blackgram was conducted at &ldquo;AB&rdquo; block farm, Kalyani, Nadia of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal, India in 2018 and 2019 spring seasons. Eight foliar nutrition schedules [control, water spray, CaCl2 @ 0.1%, KCl @ 0.2%, KNO3 @ 0.2%, salicylic acid @100 ppm, complex NPK (19:19:19) @ 2% and DAP @ 2% at initiation of flower and pod] were allocated in a randomized complete block design with three replications. 
 
Result:&nbsp;Complex fertilizer NPK (19:19:19) @ 2% improved crop growth attributes like, LAI, CGR, chlorophyll content and nodules plant-1. Yield components, yield along with net return increased with complex NPK (19:19:19) @2%. The protein content was also the highest with complex NPK (19:19:19) @2%. So, foliar nutrition with 2% NPK (19:19:19) at initiation of flower and pod may be recommended for maximizing productivity of spring blackgram.</div>

Foliar Nutrition in Spring Blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] in Lower Gangetic Plains of West Bengal

<div>Background: Micronutrient formulation is a liquid mixture of micronutrients which can be used as a fertilizer. It is a mixture of two solutions viz., solution A and solution B. Solution A is a mixture of zinc sulphate (50 gL-1), boric acid (10 gL-1), copper sulphate (20 gL-1), manganous sulphate (0.5 gL-1), ferrous sulphate (10 gL-1) and ammonium molybdate (0.5 gL-1) whereas solution B is an organic acid which act as a chelate. The mixture can be diluted to specific concentrations for application. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of micronutrient formulation as seed treatment and foliar nutrition.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The study was conducted at College of Agriculture, Padannakkad, Kerala Agricultural University and Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pilicode during 2018&ndash;19. The investigation was carried out in three parts: (i) standardization of micronutrient formulation for cowpea (ii) seed treatment study (iii) field experiment. The proportion of mixing micronutrient formulation and the duration for seed treatment was standardized in experiment I. In experiment II, a seed treatment study was carried out in a completely randomised design with seven treatments and three replications which included seed treatment with micronutrient formulation @ 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1, 1.5 and 2 percent as T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 respectively. T7 (seed treatment with water) was the control. Three, a field experiment was carried out in randomized block design (factorial) with twelve treatments and three replications. The treatment consisting of combination of four levels of seed treatment - factor A [no seed treatment (S1), seed treatment with rhizobium (S2), seed treatment with best concentration from experiment 1 (S3) and second best seed treatment from experiment 1 (S4)]&nbsp;and three levels of foliar application of micronutrient - factor B [no foliar application (F1), one foliar application at 15 DAS (F2) and two foliar applications at 15 and 30 DAS (F3)]. 
 
Result: Through lab experiments, solution B was standardized and the formulation was developed by mixing solution A and solution B in the ratio 1:2. Duration for seed treatment was also standardized as 6 hours. Thus micronutrient formulation was standardized. In seed treatment study, seeds treated with 2% micronutrient formulation (T6) showed highest plant height at three leaf stage (24.23 cm) and seedling vigour index (2423). In the field experiment seed treatment with 2% micronutrient formulation (S3), foliar spray at 15 and 30 days after sowing (F3) and their interaction (S3F3) was found to be highly effective to the crop in terms of plant height, stem diameter, number of pods per plant, pod weight per plant, grain yield and nutrient content in grain. These results clearly indicate the role of micronutrient formulation in enhancing the growth, yield and nutrient content of cowpea.</div>

Enhancing productivity and quality of fodder maize through soil and foliar zinc nutrition

Evaluation of Soil Applied Arbuscular mycorrhiza Along with Foliar Nutrition of Nitrogen, Iron and Zinc on, Mycorrhizal Colonization, Physiological Parameters, Growth and Yield of Rice under Aerobic Condition

Effectiveness of Foliar and Soil Application of Zinc Fertilizer on Growth Characteristics of Vigna unguiculata

Effect of Zinc Fertilization on Nutritional Quality of Cowpea Cultivars

Effect of Foliar Nutrition and Crop Geometry on Cultivars of Blackgram in Shiwalik Foothills of Jammu

The optimum foliar zinc source and level for improving Zn content in seed of chickpea

Influence of Foliar Application of Nutrient on Growth, Yield, Economics, Soil Nutritional Status and Nutrient Uptake of Soybean

Foliar Nutrition with Water Soluble Macro and Micro Nutrient Fertilizers for Yield Maximization in Bush Vegetable Cowpea

Foliar Nutrition in Spring Blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] in Lower Gangetic Plains of West Bengal

Evaluation of Micronutrient Mixture as Seed Treatment and Foliar Nutrition in Grain Cowpea