Agronomic zinc biofortification of potato (Solanum tuberosum) through soil and foliar zinc sulphate application in Rajasthan

B L  NAGAR; JAGDISH  SINGH; D L  YADAV; HANUMAN PRASAD  VERMA; R R  MEENA

doi:10.56093/ijas.v94i1.141924

Authors

B L NAGAR Agricultural Research Station, Kota, Rajasthan 324 001, India
JAGDISH SINGH Punjab Agricultural University Regional Research Station, Gurdaspur-143521, Punjab https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1447-785X
D L YADAV Agricultural Research Station, Kota, Rajasthan 324 001, India
HANUMAN PRASAD VERMA College of Agriculture, Hindoli, Kota, Rajasthan
R R MEENA Agricultural Research Station, Kota, Rajasthan 324 001, India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v94i1.141924

Keywords:

Biofortification, Correlation matrix, Potato, Tuber yield, Zinc

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during winter (rabi) seasons of 2020–21 and 2021–22 at Agricultural Research Station, Kota, Rajasthan to assess agronomical biofortification of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) through soil and foliar zinc sulphate application The experiment consisted of 7 treatment combination of soil and foliar applications in a randomized block design with 4 replications. The results revealed that the application of ZnSO₄ @2.5 kg/ha at the time of planting and foliar application of zinc sulphate @0.2% at 25 and 50 DAP (T₇) gave significantly higher total tuber yield, and number of tubers. A significantly higher tuber zinc content was observed under treatment T₇, where soil application of ZnSO₄ @12.5 kg/ha at planting + 0.2% foliar application of ZnSO₄ at 25 and 50 days after planting (DAP) compared to control, indicating more Zn accumulation. The benefit-cost analysis of tuber production under different basal soil application levels and foliar application revealed highest benefit-cost ratio of 2.59 with treatment T₇ followed by T₆ (2.39) and T₃ (2.35). The apparent recovery efficiency and partial factor productivity were also higher with combined application of ZnSO₄ through soil as well as foliar application. The experiment highlights the importance of soil and foliar zinc sulphate application for improved tuber yield and zinc fortification in a sustainable and cost-effective manner.

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