Synergistic Application of Zinc–Iron through Seed and Foliar Treatments for Maize Yield and Nutrition in the Western Ghats

Santhosh Anto Kumar Rajendran; Augustine Rajendran; Ramesh Kumar Palayyan; Dhivyalakshmi Thirumal; Rubika Thangaraj; Meenachi Ramaiah; Graceson Robinson; Jeshwin Giftson Sobana Ramani Prince

doi:10.55230/mabjournal.v55i2.3811

Authors

Santhosh Anto Kumar Rajendran Division of Agronomy, School of Agricultural Sciences, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, India https://orcid.org/0009-0003-7529-1850
Augustine Rajendran
augustinerajendran@gmail.com
Division of Agronomy, School of Agricultural Sciences, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, India https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9635-5153
Ramesh Kumar Palayyan Division of Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, School of Agricultural Sciences, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3798-036X
Dhivyalakshmi Thirumal Division of Agronomy, School of Agricultural Sciences, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, India https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5800-0408
Rubika Thangaraj Division of Agronomy, School of Agricultural Sciences, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, India https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8450-2095
Meenachi Ramaiah Division of Agronomy, School of Agricultural Sciences, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, India https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6501-612X
Graceson Robinson Division of Agronomy, School of Agricultural Sciences, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, India https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2499-1011
Jeshwin Giftson Sobana Ramani Prince Division of Agronomy, School of Agricultural Sciences, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, India https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5709-0026

Keywords:

Maize, Zinc Fertilisation, Ferrous Fertilisation, Integrated Nutrient Management, Biofortification, Grain Quality, Yield Attributes, Foliar Application

Abstract

Agronomic biofortification through fertilizer application is an effective approach to address global malnutrition caused by deficiencies of zinc and iron. A field study was carried out on sandy clay loam soil during the rabi seasons of 2024 and 2025 at Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, to evaluate the influence of zinc and ferrous fertilization under integrated nutrient management on maize productivity and grain quality under Western Ghats conditions. Maize was sown at a spacing of 60 × 25 cm following a split plot design, wherein the main plots consisted of two fertilizer recommended doses of fertilizers, 100% and 125%, and the sub-plots comprised nine nutrient level treatments, each replicated three times. The integrated treatment S₉-S₃+ Foliar application – ZnSO₄ @ 0.5% at 45^th and 60^th DAS recorded the highest plant height (207.50 cm), leaf area index (5.28), dry matter production (2002.96 kg ha^-1), cob length (23.55 cm), grain yield (9048.66 kg ha^-1), and stover yield (13,359.25 kg ha^-1), whereas the control (S₁) registered the lowest values. Compared to S₁, quality parameters were improved drastically at S₉ with crude protein (14.88%), starch (66.417mg g ^-1), iron (36.32 mg kg ^-1), zinc (32.15 mg kg ^-1), higher than all previous treatments. The results of the study suggest that the application of zinc fertiliser has a significant positive effect on both vegetative growth and productivity of maize while providing improved nutritional properties of the grain; therefore, zinc fertilisation has an important role in enhancing both the performance and the quality of maize crops.

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Author Biography

Graceson Robinson, Division of Agronomy, School of Agricultural Sciences, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, India

Division of Agronomy, School of Agricultural Sciences, KITS, Karunya University, Coimbatore. Tamil Nadu. India

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