Relevance and Essentiality of Ferti-fortification of Wheat Grains With Manganese and Copper

摘要

The present investigation was carried out for two consecutive years (2006-07 and 2007-08) at research farm of Department of Soils, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana on a loamy sand soil (Typic Ustochrept). The research investigation was carried out with a prime objective to enhance wheat grains with Mn and Cu content through ferti-fortification (foliar sprays). For enrichment of wheat grains with Mn and Cu, six wheat cultivars viz. PBW 550, PBW 502, PBW 343, PDW 291, PDW 274 and PDW 233 were selected for experimental study, with three each of aestivum and durum cultivars. Four foliar sprays of Mn @ 0.5% and same no of sprays of Cu @ 0.2% were applied at different stages of wheat growth starting from maximum tillering, flower initiation, milk and dough stages. Foliar sprays of Mn significantly increased the yield of wheat grains varying from 1.44-5.15 % with minimum increase by PDW 233 cultivar. Whereas, foliar sprays of Cu increased the wheat yield of six wheat cultivars varying from 0.19-1.47%. Irrespective of durum or aestivum varieties, the results of the study indicated that 24.00-28.25 % enrichment with Mn and 2.17-6.67% of Cu is possible through foliar sprays of inorganic sources of Mn (MnSO4.H2O) and Cu (CuSO4·5H2O) respectively. The data further revealed that foliar sprays of Mn @ 0.5% significantly increased the grain yield whereas, the yield increase with 0.2 % Cu is not significant. Foliar sprays of Mn and Cu significantly increased the content of Mn and Cu in grains. Foliar sprays of 0.5% Mn and 0.2% Cu increased the grain yield of wheat up to 52.00 q ha~(-1) (PBW 550). In all the six wheat cultivars, the uptake of Mn and Cu micronutrients increased significantly with their foliar sprays over control. All the six wheat cultivars showed significant increase in Mn and Cu concentrations over control. Our results reported that in all the wheat cultivars, the grain yield was not much affected with Mn and Cu foliar sprays whereas, their content in wheat grains showed significant increase in their enrichment.