Journal of Environmental and Agricultural Sciences (JEAS). Nawaz et al., 2015. Volume 2: 1
Open Access – Research Article
Soil Applied Zinc Ensures High Production and Net Returns of Divergent Wheat Cultivars
Hamid Nawaz1, Nazim Hussain1, Azra Yasmeen1, Muhammad Arif1, Mubashir Hussain1,
Muhammad Ishaq Asif Rehmani2,Muhammad Bilal Chattha3 and Ayaz Ahmad1
1Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
2Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan
3Institute of Agricultural Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore Pakistan
Abstract: Zinc (Zn) scarcity in soil is an important obstacle in achieving maximum wheat grain yield in calcareous soils. This can be overcome through Zn application appropriate either in the soil or foliage. A field study was conducted at Agronomic Research Area, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan (Pakistan) during Rabi 2010-11 to evaluate the role of soil applied Zn fertilizer on the growth and yield of divergent wheat cultivars. Wheat cultivars viz. Bakhar-2002, Shafaq-2006, Saher-2006, Faisalabad-2008 and Lasani-2008 were grown with Zn applications at the rate of 0, 4, 8 and 12 kg ha-1.Soil applied Zn at all levels significantly improved the maximum yield related traits of all wheat cultivars as compared with control. Though all the Zn levels excelled compared with control; however, the plots receiving Zn at 8 and12 kg ha-1 observed higher wheat output along with higher grain Zn contents. Wheat cultivars, Lasani-2008 and Saher-2006 out yielded all other wheat cultivars under study due to significant expansion in yield related traits. Moreover economic analysis disclosed that Lasani-2008 sown with 8 kg ha-1 of Zn observed the highest net income and benefit: cost ratio compared with all otherzinc levels. In order to get higher production and net returns, wheat cultivar Lasani-2008 should be grown with 8 kg ha-1 of Zn under arid conditions of Multan, Pakistan.
Keywords: Benefit cost ratio, micronutrient, soil fertilization, Triticum aestivum L., Zinc.
*Corresponding authors: Nazim Hussain, nazimhussain@bzu.edu.pk; Hamid Nawaz hamybhatti@gmail.com
Cite this article as:
Nawaz, H., N. Hussain, A. Yasmeen, M. Arif, M. Hussain, M.I.A. Rehmani, M.B. Chattha, A. Ahmad. 2015. Soil Applied Zinc Ensures High Production and Net Returns of Divergent Wheat Cultivars. Journal of Environmental & Agricultural Sciences. 2:1. [View Full-Text] [Citations]
Copyright © Nawaz et al., 2015. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium provided the original author and source are appropriately cited and credited.
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