Impact of Biofortification with Application of FeSO₄ and ZnSO₄ on Growth, Yield, and Economics of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.)

Volume 14, Issue 55, 2025 (July – September)

Research Article
Impact of Biofortification with Application of FeSO₄ and ZnSO₄ on Growth, Yield, and Economics of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.)
Suresh Kumar Yadav, Babu Lal Choudhary, Hoshiyar Singh, Arjun Lal Choudhary and Deepika Chanda
Keywords: Biofortification, Economics, FeSO₄, Growth traits, Pearl millet, Yield attributes, ZnSO₄
DOI:10.37273/chesci.cs232056084

Full Text – PDF

Abstract

A field experiment entitled “Role of Biofortification with Iron and Zinc in Yield and Quality of Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.)” was conducted during the Kharif season of 2024 at the Agricultural Research Farm, Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur. The study consisted of nine treatments, arranged in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. In pearl millet, parameters such as plant height (cm), dry matter accumulation (g m−2), chlorophyll content (mg g⁻¹), and yield-attributing traits including the number of effective tillers per plant, ear head length (cm), ear head girth (mm), and grain weight per ear head (g) were significantly enhanced by the treatment involving soil application of ZnSO4 @ 25 kg/ha combined with a 0.5% FeSO4 foliar spray at the tillering stage (20–25 DAS), referred to as T7. The highest grain yield (2422.25 kg ha⁻¹), stover yield (6669.26 kg ha⁻¹) and biological yield (9091.51 kg ha⁻¹) were recorded under treatment T7. The highest, gross return (Rs. 87932.44), net returns (Rs. 54707.5 ha⁻¹) and benefit-cost (B:C) ratio (1.65) were observed in T7, demonstrating the economic viability of Iron and Zinc management practice in pearl millet cultivation.

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