Impact of zinc and manganese application to increase productivity of autumn planted maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

Micronutrients play a significant role in various plant metabolic processes and are required in much smaller amount by the plants as compared to the macronutrients. An experiment was conducted during 2011, at the Agronomic research area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, to investigate the response of autumn planted maize to ZnSO4 and MnSO4 levels (10, 20 and 30 kg ha-1) and in combinations (5 kg ha-1 ZnSO4 + 5 kg ha-1 MnSO4, 10 kg ha-1 ZnSO4 + 10 kg ha-1 MnSO4 and 15 kg ha-1 ZnSO4 + 15 kg ha-1 MnSO4). The randomized complete block design (RCBD) having three replicates was used with plot size of 3 m x 6 m. The crop was planted on ridges 75 cm apart with recommended plant to plant distance of 25 cm. Maximum values for plant height at maturity (225 cm), cob diameter (4.29 cm), number of grains per cob (415), biological yield (20.15 tons ha-1), grain yield (7.42 tons ha-1) and seed protein content (8.96%) were recorded where 15 kg ha-1 ZnSO4 + 15 kg ha-1 MnSO4 was applied.