Vol. 11, Issue 2 (2022)

Author(s):
Anirudh, Suresh Kumar Dudwal, Kanhaiya Lal and DK Dwivedi

Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi of 2020-21 at research farm of Tirhut college of Agriculture, Dholi (Muzaffarpur) in randomized block design with eight treatments, replicated thrice. The treatment comprised as T₁ - control, T₂ -RDF 100% (NPKS-20:17:16:20 kg ha^-1 +PSB + Rhizobium), T₃- RDF100%+ ZnSO₄ @ 10 kg ha^-1 as basal application, T₄ - RDF 100%+ ZnSO₄ @ 15 kg ha^-1 as basal application, T₅ - RDF 100%+ ZnSO₄ @ 20 kg ha ^-1 as basal application, T₆ - RDF 100% + ZnSO₄ @ 0.5% foliar spray at pre flowering, T₇ - RDF 100% + ZnSO₄ @ 0.5% foliar spray at pre flowering and pod initiation and T₈ - RDF 100% + Seed priming with 0.05% Zinc solution W/v soaked for six hours. Growth attributes i.e., plant height, dry matter accumulation, crop growth rate, and number of branches per plant were recorded higher under treatment RDF 100%+ ZnSO₄ @ 20 kg ha ^-1 as basal application which was found to be at par with RDF 100%+ ZnSO₄ @ 15 kg ha^-1 as basal application, and RDF 100% + ZnSO₄ @ 0.5% foliar spray at pre flowering and pod initiation and significantly superior than application of RDF100% + 10 kg ha^-1 Zn application and RDF 100% + one foliar spray at pre flowering stage of Lathyrus. RDF 100%+ ZnSO₄ @ 20 kg ha ^-1 as basal application recorded higher number of pods per plant and at par with RDF 100%+ ZnSO₄ @ 15 kg ha^-1 as basal application, and RDF 100% + ZnSO₄ @ 0.5% foliar spray at pre flowering and pod initiation over control and other zinc application treatments. Grain and straw yield were significantly affected by various doses and application method of zinc. RDF 100%+ ZnSO₄ @ 20 kg ha ^-1 as basal application enhanced grain yield and straw yield than foliar application and no zinc application. Among different application method, basal application recorded higher grain and straw yield but no significant effect was found on harvest index. Basal application of ZnSO₄ @ 20 kg ha^-1 was remained at par with basal application of Zinc sulphate @ 15 kg ha^-1 and two foliar application of 0.5% ZnSO₄ at pre flowering and pod initiation stage. Among the different application method higher gross return, net return, B: C ratio were fetched out in RDF 100%+ ZnSO₄ @ 20 kg ha ^-1 as basal application than foliar and seed priming and control (no nutrient application) method of zinc sulphate application under Lathyrus crop.