GRAIN ZINC AND IRON ENRICHMENT THROUGH FOLIAR APPLICATION AUGMENTS WHEAT YIELD UNDER VARYING NITROGEN REGIMES

Nutrients supply at optimum level is essential for the improving growth, yield and quality of wheat grain.Therefore thisstudy was carried to fmd the effect of Zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and nitrogen (N) fertilization on wheat performance in field studies, during 2014-15 and 2015-16 at Cereal Crop Research Institute (CCRI), PirsabakNoweshera, Pakistan. The treatments were soil applied N (90, 120 and 150) kg ha(-1), foliar applied zinc and Fe (i.e. 1, 2, 3 kg ha(-1), each) and two controls unsprayed check (i.e. no micro nutrients, no water) and sprayed check (no micro nutrients + water). Use of 3 kg ha(-1) Zn, 1 kg ha(-1) iron and 120 kg ha(-1) Nhad significantly increased the wheat grain yield by 31% over unsprayed check. However, with increasing N to 150 kg ha(-1) in combination with 3 kg ha(-1) both Zn and Fe, the increase in grain yield was 23% over unsprayed check. Application of 3 kg ha(-1) Zn and Fe each along with 120 kg N ha(-1) had increased the grain zinc content by 17 mg kg(-1) and grain Fe concentration by 32 mg kg(-1). The grains Zn and Fe concentration were further increased to 23% and 13.4%, respectively over unsprayed checkwithincreasing N rate from 120 to150 kg ha(-1). In conclusion the higher economical wheat grain yield was achieved with 120 kg N ha(-1) along with 3 kg Zn ha(-1) and 1 kg Fe ha(-1). However, quality wheat was produced by applying Zn and Fe at 3 kg ha(-1) of each along with 150 kg ha(-1) of nitrogen. Hence, ensuring higher wheat productivity with quality grains 3 kg Zn ha(-1) and Fe each along with 120 or 150 kg N ha(-1) is recommended.