Phenology and Biomass Production of Wheat in Response to Micronutrients and Nitrogen Application

Zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) are important micronutrients for the growth and development of plant.Improving N availability to plants improve biomass production and also increase the shoot Fe content andaccumulation of Zn in wheat plants. Experiments were conducted at the Cereal Crop Research Institute(CCRI) Pirsabak, Noweshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan during 2014-15 and 2015-16 to study the responseof wheat to N, Zn and Fe application. Treatments included three levels of N (90, 120 and 150 kg ha^-1),three concentrations of Zn and Fe (i.e. 1, 2, 3 kg ha^-1) each along with two controls i.e. no micro nutrients nowater (control-I) and no micro nutrients + water (control-II). The N was soil applied and MN as foliar sprayat booting stage. Days to anthesis, leaf area tiller^-1, leaf area index, plant height, days to physiological maturityand biological yield were significantly increased by both N and Zn while the same parameters except daysto anthesis, days to physiological maturity were also significantly enhanced by using Fe. Result revealed thathigher leaf area tiller-1 (113 cm2), leaf area index (2.3), plant height (100 cm), biological yield (11431 kg ha-1)by 150 kg N ha^-1 , 3 kg Zn ha-1 and 1 kg Fe ha^-1 of wheat as compared to the control-I. In conclusion, 16 %increases in biomass production was observed with Zn and Fe at the rate of 3 and 1 kg ha^-1 respectively alongwith 150 kg N ha-1 over no fertilization thus combination of the 150 kg ha-1, 3 kg Zn ha^-1 and 1 kg Fe ha^-1is recommended for improving biomass and leaf area. Further studies are recommended to understand themechanistic approach of such improvement.