Effect of Levels of Phosphorus and Zinc-EDTA on Growth and Yield of Blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) in Zinc-Deficient Vertisol

Aim: In pursuit of optimizing crop productivity and nutritional quality, this study aimed to investigate the influence and interaction of phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn) on the growth, yield, and quality parameters of Blackgram (Vigna mungo L.), variety VBN 8.

Study Design: The experiment was designed using Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD), incorporating 12 treatment combinations and three replications.

Place and duration of Study: The experiment was conducted in the field no. A 4 of Wetland farm, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore; from May 2023 to August 2023.

Methodology: The experiment consisted of 12 treatments, each replicated three times, resulting in a total of 36 experimental plots. The treatments included different combinations of P levels (0, 25, 50, and 75 kg ha-1) and concentrations of foliar-applied Zn-EDTA (0%, 0.5%, and 1.0%) applied twice at 30 and 45 days after sowing. The recommended dose of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K2O) at 25 kg ha-1 each, along with a recommended dose of zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) at 25 kg ha-1, was applied as a blanket recommendation to ensure consistent nutrient supply across treatments.

Results: It was found that the treatment combination of 50 kg ha-1 P2O5 and 0.5% Zn-EDTA increased morphological characters and yield compared to other treatments followed by treatment combination of 50 kg ha-1 P2O5 and 1% Zn-EDTA. The minimum yield and morphological characters were recorded in the control plot where neither P2O5 nor Zn-EDTA was applied.

Conclusion: This research depicted that the combined application of 50 kg ha-1 P2O5 and 0.5% Zn-EDTA spray has a positive impact on the growth, yield and quality of blackgram in zinc deficient soil under field conditions resulting in improved morphological characters and crop yield. Hence, it may be concluded that an optimum dose of 50 kg ha-1 P2O5 and 0.5% Zn-EDTA spray can be recommended for blackgram to enhance crop productivity.