Response of Fababean to Boron, Zinc and Sulphur Application in Alluvial Soil

Abstract

A field study was carried out at the research farm, R.B.S. College, Bichpuri, Agra (U.P.), during rabiseason of 2008-09 and 2009-10 to study the effect of boron (0, 1.0, 2.0 kg B ha-1), zinc (0, 5.0 and 10.0 kgZn ha-1) and sulphur (0, 20.0 and 40.0 kg S ha-1) levels on growth, yield components and yield and uptakeof nutrients in fababean (cv. Nutan). Data revealed that the growth parameters, yield attributes, yield andprotein content increased significantly with the application of 1.0 kg B, 5 kg Zn and 40 kg S ha-1 over theirrespective controls. Application of 1 kg B ha-1 gave 0.274 and 0.279 t ha-1 higher grain and straw yield overcontrol. It also increased the content and uptake of nutrients by grain and straw significantly over controlexcept that of K. Application of Zn proved superior to control in terms of protein content in fababean. Thecontent of P, K and S decreased, but the uptake of nutrients by the crop increased significantly with Znaddition up to 5 kg Zn ha-1 over control. But the content of N and Zn and uptake of Zn increasedsignificantly up to 10 kg Zn ha-1. Application of 40 kg S ha-1 was more effective in increasing growth, yieldattributes and yields than that of 20 kg S ha-1. The highest grain (4.70 t ha-1) and straw (4.75 t ha-1) yieldswere recorded with 40 kg S ha-1, which was 21.4 and 21.7% higher than that of control. The content anduptake of nutrients by the crop increased significantly up to 40 kg S ha-1. Sulphur application tended toincrease protein content in fababean. Thus, application of 1 kg B, 5 kg Zn and 40 kg S ha-1 would besufficient to sustain the productivity and quality of fababean under Agra conditions.