Phenology and Productivity of Maize (Zea mays L.) as Influenced by Different Methods of Zinc Application

Background: Maize is the most sensitive crop to zinc deficiency and enhancement of grain yield due to zinc application was well-known in the diverse agroclimatic conditions of the globe. Methods: A field experiment was conducted at Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal, during the Rabi seasons of 2018 and 2019 to study the effects of different zinc application methods on maize phenology and productivity. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications and eight treatments, including control, soil applications (@ 5 and 10 kg Zn ha-1), seed priming (SP) with 2% Zn solution, SP of 1% Zn solution along with foliar applications (FA) of 0.5% Zn at tasseling and silking stage and FA of 1% Zn solely at silking and 0.5% each at tasseling and silking. Result: Results indicated that zinc application significantly advanced tassel initiation and silking, particularly with a soil application of 10 kg Zn ha-1. On average, the maize variety Kaveri-2018 took 5 to 6 days to transition from tasseling to silking. Maize matured earlier with zinc treatments, especially with soil-applied zinc (10 kg ha-1), took 111 and 116 days in 2018 and 2019 respectively as compared to control treatment, which took 115 and 119 days to mature in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Grain yield was highest with soil-applied zinc @10 kg ha-1 (10.03 and 11.25 t ha-1 in 2018 and 2019, respectively), followed by 5 kg Zn ha-1 and seed priming with a 2% zinc solution. Foliar applications of 0.5% Zn both at tasseling and silking stages and 1% Zn at silking stage increased yield by 15.45% and 13.62%, respectively, over the control. Among the growth stages, uptake of nitrogen (221.37 kg ha-1), phosphorus (6.91 kg ha-1) and potassium (84.90 kg ha-1) was found highest at silking stage with the soil application of zinc @5-10 kg ha-1.