Effect of zinc and zinc solubilizing bacteria on the yield and nutrient uptake by maize in calcareous soil

Investigations were conducted for assessing the impact of different sources and levels of zinc and zinc solubilizing bacteria on the yield and nutrient uptake by maize in calcareous soil. The study was conducted at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu on TNAU maize hybrid CO 6. The experiment was laid out in factorial completely randomized design (FCRD) with three factors replicated thrice. The treatments consisted of two sources of Zn [ZnS4Oand Zn3 (PO4)2] with three levels (0, 5, 7.5 kg Zn/ha) with and without zinc solubilizing bacteria (ZSB). ZnSO4 application performed better than Zn3(PO4)2 in improving the grain and stover yield. Among the levels of Zn, 7.5 kg Zn/ha registered significantly highest grain and stover yield. When compared to the treatments without ZSB inoculation, 4.2 per cent increase in mean grain and stover yield was registered with ZSB inoculation. With respect to uptake of nutrients, ZSB showed a significant increase in the grain, stover and total uptake of P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu. In addition sources of Zn also significantly increased the P uptake in grain and stover and Zn3 (PO4)2 registered higher P uptake than ZnSO. Sources and levels of Zn had no effect on the uptake of K, Fe, Mn and Cu whereas Zn uptake increased with increase in the levels of Zn and the highest uptake of Zn by maize was observed when Zn was applied at 7.5 kg/ha as ZnSO4.