RÉSUMÉ
Background: Suboptimal dietary zinc intake is widespread in India due to low levels of plant-available zinc in soils and limited food choices. The aim of this study was to enhance the zinc concentration in soil and plant by using farmyard manure (FYM) enriched with zinc fertilizers and zinc solubilizers respectively. Additionally, the response of maize to three forms of zinc fertilizer was determined. Maize crop grown under zinc-deficient soils contain lower zinc concentration, which can cause human illness and a drastic effect on yield can be noticed. Therefore, enhancing zinc content in plants by using FYM enriched with zinc solubilizers and inorganic zinc fertilizers is the best approach to increase zinc content in soil and plants. Methods: A field experiment was conducted to study the physico chemical properties of soil under maize (Zea mays L.) in response to the application of FYM enriched with ZnSB and ZnSO4 on sandy loam soils at College Farm, Agricultural College, Mahanandi campus of Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University during rabi, 2021-2022. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with eleven treatments and replicated thrice. Results: The results revealed that significantly higher and comparable values of available nitrogen (302, 299 and 281 kg ha-1 respectively), phosphorous (73.40, 66.53 and 58.40 kg ha-1 respectively) and zinc (1.76, 1.54 and 1.15 mg kg-1 respectively) at different growth stages of maize were registered with application of FYM @ 10 t ha-1 enriched with ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1. Whereas available potassium, Iron, manganese, copper, soil pH, EC (dS m-1) and OC (%) were not significantly affected by the application of FYM enriched with ZnSB and ZnSO4.
RÉSUMÉ
The uptake of phosphorus was found to increase with each successive increase in nitrogen level from 200 to 300 kg ha-1 and up to 60 kg ha-1 with increase in age of the crop with higher uptake at 300 kg N ha-1 and 60 kg P2O5 ha-1. Crop sown in N3P3 (300 kg N + 80 kg P2O5 ha-1) recorded significantly higher phosphorus uptake by grain. Higher nutrient uptake was recorded in F2 (125% of F1) and F4 (F2+ Kharif crop residue incorporation), while the sub plot F1 (Recommended dose of N and P2O5) and F3 (F1+ Kharif crop residue incorporation) recorded lower nutrient uptake during both the years. The uptake of phosphorus by maize increased with each successive increment of nitrogen and phosphorus but the trend is not consistent. The higher level of nutrients supplied through increased dose of nitrogen along with phosphorus is conducive for extensive root proliferation, to explore a greater volume of soil and absorb larger quantities of nutrients. Enhanced uptake of nutrients often tends to correlate positively with dry matter production and concentration of nutrients in the plant under higher level of nutrient supply. Residues of corn did not affect the P uptake and the nutrients released from corn residue is not a major contributor for subsequent corn nutrient uptake in sandy loam soils as is evidenced with highest nutrient uptake in the plots received with 125 % recommended dose either with or without residue incorporation.