Agronomic Biofortification to Improve Productivity and Grain Zn Concentration of Bread Wheat

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is one of the major problems in food crops, affecting humans and animals Present study was carried out to determine the effect of Zn application through different methods for improving the productivity and grain bio-fortification of bread wheat. Zn was applied through different methods as soil application (10 kg ZnSO4 ha(-1)), seed priming (0.3 M ZnSO4) and foliar application (0.5% ZnSO4 at booting and milking stages). Zn application through either method increased the productivity and grain Zn concentration of wheat. The order of improvement in grain yield was soil application (6.60 Mg ha(-1)), seed priming (6.09 Mg ha(-1)) and foliar application (5.75 Mg ha(-1)). Likewise, increase in grain Zn concentration was in order of foliar application (70%), soil application (39%) and seed priming (15%). Zn application through foliar spray had highest partial factor productivity, agronomic use efficiency and Zn mobilization efficiency index owing to low quantity of Zn applied. All Zn application methods remarkably enhanced the profitability; however, soil application remained more profitable method, followed by seed priming and foliar application. In conclusion, Zn application through soil was beneficial in improving the productivity of wheat, while in case of biofortification, Zn application through foliar spray was best. (C) 2019 Friends Science Publishers