Effect of Foliar Application of Zinc and Boron on the Growth and Yield of Wheat

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted from November, 2022 to March, 2023 at the Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University research farm in Dhaka, Bangladesh to evaluate the effect of foliar application of Zn and B on wheat. The experiment utilized a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications, using BARI Gom-32 (wheat variety) as the test crop. Eight treatments were evaluated: T₀=Control (No chemical fertilizers), T₁=N₁₄₀ P₂₅ K₁₁₀ S₁₆ kg ha^-1 (Recommended Fertilizer Dose), T₂=T₁+Zn and B application in soil @ Zinc 2 kg ha^-1, B l kg ha^-1, T₃=T₁+Zn and B once foliar application @ Zinc 2 kg ha^-1, B 1 kg ha^-1 at 50 DAS, T₄=T₁+Zn and B twice foliar application @Zinc 2 kg ha^-1, B 1 kg ha^-1 at 35 DAS and 50 DAS, T₅=T₁+Zn and B twice foliar application @ Zinc 1 kg ha^-1, B 0.5 kg ha^-1 at 35 DAS and 50 DAS, T₆=T₁+Zn and B once foliar application @ Zinc 1 kg ha^-1, B 0.5 kg ha^-1 at 35 DAS and T₇=T₁+Zn and B once foliar application @ Zinc 1 kg ha^-1, B 0.5 kg ha^-1 at 50 DAS. Results indicated that T₄ significantly improved growth and yield attributes. Maximum plant height (79.46 cm), spike length (14.92 cm), flag leaf length (14.22 cm), total tillers plant^-1 (5.33), spikelets spike^-1 (15.86), grains spike^-1 (45.53), 1000-seeds weight (56.00 g), grain yield (4.13 t ha^-1), straw yield (4.74 t ha^-1), and harvest index (46.52%) were recorded with T₄. Conversely, the control (T₀) showed the lowest results across all parameters.