Vol. 11, Issue 1 (2022)

Author(s):
Nitin Khobragade, KD Patil, SB Dodake, Sunanda Gavit, Ashawari Jadhav, Amit Joke and Deepti Bhuvad

Abstract:
A field study on biofortification of finger millet with calcium and iron by using different sources in lateritic soils of Konkan was conducted at farm of Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Dapoli, Dist. Ratnagiri during Kharif 2015, where lime and basic slag were applied as a source of Ca, foliar application of Ca through CaCl₂ and Fe through FeSO₄ as well as Ca + Fe fortified Urea-DAP briquette were applied to finger millet Cv. Dapoli-1 to enhance Ca and Fe content in grain especially as well as its effect on yield of finger millet. The data revealed that the application of recommended dose of fertilizer (80:40:00 kg ha^-1) with CaCO₃ or basic slag (@ 1/5^th LR) either alone or with the foliar spray of Fe through FeSO₄ @1% recorded the higher grain yield and straw yield of finger millet. Further, the quality of finger millet grain specially calcium and iron content as well as protein, crude fibre, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium sulphur, manganese, zinc and copper content in grain were also higher in treatment RDF with CaCO₃ or basic slag either alone or with the foliar spray of Fe. Thus, the application of recommended dose of fertilizer (80:40:00 kg ha^-1) with CaCO₃ or basic slag (@ 1/5^th LR) either alone or with the foliar spray of Fe through FeSO₄ @1% indicating thereby that liming of soil with CaCO₃ or basic slag (@ 1/5^th LR) and application of recommended dose of fertilizer (80:40:00 kg ha^-1) and/or foliar application of Fe through FeSO₄ @1% was beneficial in lateritic soils of Konkan from the view point of biofortification of Ca and Fe as well as getting higher yield.