Effects of Source and Method of Zinc Application on Yield, Zinc Biofortification of Grain, and Zn Uptake and Use Efficiency in Chickpea (Cicer arietinumL.)

A field experiment was conducted at the Indian Agricultural Research Institutes, New Delhi, to compare zinc sulfate heptahydrate (ZnSHH) and zinc–ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Zn-EDTA) applied to soil or foliage on grain yield, Zn biofortification of grain, and Zn uptake and use efficiency in chickpea. Zn-EDTA was better than ZnSHH, and foliar application was better than soil application of Zn. Three foliar spays of Zn-EDTA [at active vegetative (V), flowering (F), and grain-filling stages (G)] gave the greatest grain and straw yields, Zn biofortification of grain, and Zn uptake by chickpea. The greatest agronomic efficiency (kg grain increased kg–1 Zn applied) was recorded with two sprays (V + F) of Zn-EDTA and the lowest with soil application of ZnSHH at 5 kg Zn ha−1. The greatest crop recovery efficiency (% of applied Zn taken up by crop) of applied Zn was recorded with three sprays (V + F + G) of Zn-EDTA (17.33%) in 2011–2012. The least crop recovery efficiency (1%) was recorded with soil application of ZnSHH at 5 kg Zn ha−1.