DefinePK

Abstract

Maize serves as both human food and animal feed. The productivity of maize can be enhanced through proper nutrient management practices. Maize is a zinc responsive crop and often experiences zinc deficiency in soils for its growth. Zinc as an essential micro-nutrient plays a vital role in fundamental plant metabolic processes and enhances the growth, yield and quality of maize by stimulating chlorophyll production, photosynthetic activity, nutrient uptake and protein biosynthesis. This study was conducted to assess the effect of zinc (Zn) application methods (foliar and soil) on the yield and quality of Maize (Zea Mays L) variety Azam during July 2017 at Agricultural Research Institute, Tarnab, Peshawar. The treatments included three levels of zinc sulphate (heptahydrate) ZnSO4.7H2O foliar spray (0, 0.5 % and 0.75 %) and three levels of zinc soil application (0, 12.5 kg Zn ha-1 and 25 kg Zn ha-1) arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The results revealed that zinc foliar spray had significant effect (P≤ 0.05) on maize yield. Parameters including cob weight, grain and straw yield were significantly increased by zinc foliar application. The highest grain yield (2.69-ton ha-1) was observed from plot sprayed with 0.5% Zn as compared to control. Similarly, soil applied zinc significantly increased yield, with the highest value of 2.52-ton ha-1. The quality parameters of maize were significantly affected by zinc application. Zinc, Phosphorus, Potassium, ash and crude fat contents of maize were significantly increased by both soil and foliar zinc application. It was concluded that a foliar spray of 0.5%, in combination with recommended NPK fertilization can enhance the quality and yield of maize.