Agronomic efficiency of Zn-Dtpa and boric acid fertilizers applied to calcarous Iraqi soil

Abstract EN

Field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of zinc and boron on productivity of maize (Zea mays L.) grown in an alluvial calcareous Iraqi soil.

Treatments included two levels of Zn (0, 10 kg Zn ha−1 ) added as Zn-DTPA to soil and three levels of B (0, 0.5, and 1.0 kg B ha−1 ) added either completely to soil or 90% to soil and 10% as foliar application during growing period in a split-split plot trial with three replicates .

Results indicated that the application of Zn, B, and Zn+B had significant effect on yield of maize, agronomic efficiency, Zn and B availability at harvest stage.

Zinc application as Zn-DTPA (10 kg Zn ha-1) increased grain yield from 6.93 to 9.50 Mg ha-1 with an increment of 37.1%.

Agronomic Efficiencies were 43.6-69.7 kg grain kg-1 Zn-DTPA applied.

Application of boron as boric acid increased grain yield from 7.43 to 8.21 and 9.01 Mg ha-1 yield for 0.5 and 1.0 kg B ha-1 with an increment of 10.6 and 21.4% respectively.

Agronomic Efficiency was in the range of 130-285 kg grain for each kg boric acid applied.

These results clearly show the response and economic justification for Zn and B applications for such crop and soil conditions.

Soil Zinc and B availability at harvest stage of maize was affected significantly by zinc and B applications.

This mean that soil fertilized adequately with Zn-DTPA and Boric acid can be considered as soil with fairly adequate Zn and B for next crop