An Asian Journal of Soil Science

S. Sathiyamurthi ¹, K. Dhanasekaran ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Chidambaram (T.N.), IN

Abstract

The present study was aimed to study the effects of different zinc levels and sources on nutrient availability of cotton in saline sodic soil. A pot experiment was conducted in Factorial Completely Randomized Design with three replications. The treatments consisted of three different sources of zinc namely zinc sulphate, zinc-EDTA and zinc humate and four levels of Zn (0, 1.25, 2.5 and 5.0 mg kg^-1). Cotton variety MCU-7 was grown as test crop. The dry matter production (DMP) and Zn uptake at different stages of crop growth were recorded in each pot separately. The uptake of NPK was recorded at harvest. The results of the study indicated that soil application of Zn significantly increased the dry matter production of the cotton invariably at all stages of crop growth. Among the three sources, Zn-humate recorded the highest DMP when compared with other two sources. Increasing the levels of Zn (0 to 5.0 mg kg^-1) significantly increased the uptake of nitrogen, potassium and Zn. But phosphorus uptake by cotton was increased upto 2.5 mg kg^-1 of Zn. Beyond that level, significant reduction in phosphorus uptake was observed. The present study concluded that 2.5 mg kg^-1 of Zn through zinc humate is the optimum dose for highest dry matter production and maximum NPK and Zn uptake.

Keywords

Cotton, Dry Matter Production, NPK Uptake, Salt Affected Soil, Zn-EDTA, ZnSO₄, Zinc Humate, Zinc Uptake.

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S. Sathiyamurthi ¹, K. Dhanasekaran ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram (T.N.), IN

Abstract

The present study was aimed to explore the effects of different sources and levels of zinc on growth and yield of cotton in saline sodic soil.A pot experiment was conducted in Factorial Completely Randomized Design with three replications. The treatments consisted of three different sources of zinc namely zinc sulphate, zinc-EDTA and zinc humate and four levels of Zn (0, 1.25, 2.5 and 5.0 mg kg^-1). Cotton variety MCU-7 was grown as test crop. The growth parameters like plant height, leaf area index (LAI), number of monopodial branches plant^-1, number of sympodial branches plant-1 and number of squares plant^-1 and yield parameters like number of bolls per plant, boll weight were recorded at appropriate stages of crop growth. The seed cotton yield, lint yield and seed yield were recorded in each pot separately. The results of the study indicated that application of Zn significantly increased the growth and yield parameters of the cotton. Among the three sources, Zn-humate recorded the highest mean plant height, leaf area index, number of monopodial plant^-1, number of sympodial plant^-1 and number of squares plant^-1 as compared to other two sources. Highest yield parameter was recorded in the treatment supplied with 5 mg kg^-1 of Zn as zinc humate. This was at par with the treatment applied with 2.5 mg kg^-1 of Zn as zinc humate. This study concluded the application of 2.5 mg kg^-1 Zn as humate was established as the optimum dose of Zn to maximize the productivity of cotton in salt affected soil.

Keywords

Cotton, Micronutrient, Zinc Humate, Plant Height, Seed Cotton Yield, Salt Affected Soils.

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