Management of Zinc Fertilizer for Sustainable Wheat [Triticum aestvum (L.)] Production on Soil Test Value of Zinc in Ustipsamment Soils of Rajasthan

Five field experiments were conducted in typic ustipsamment soil having available zinc status 0.28, 0.36, 0.48, 0.54 and 1.20 mg kg^-1 during Rabi 2008-09 to 2010-11 for management of zinc fertilizer for sustainable and economical wheat production on soil test value of zinc. Eight levels of zinc sulphate i.e. 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 kg ha^-1 were taken in a Randomized Block Design with three replications. The yield of wheat (grain and straw), phosphorus and Zn uptake were influenced by the rate of zinc. Application of ZnSO₄ @ 30 and 25 kg at site I and II, 20 kg at site III and IV and 5 kg ha^-1 at site V gave significantly higher grain and straw yield of wheat over their lower doses. Zinc uptake by wheat increased with increasing levels of ZnSO₄ but phosphorus uptake decreased at higher levels of ZnSO₄ at site II, III, IV and V. Application of ZnSO₄ significantly increased the DTPA-extractable zinc in post harvest soil. A regression equation (Y=8.304-16.888 Log X) was derived to quantify the dose of ZnSO₄ as per available zinc status of soil for sustainable and economical wheat production in ustipsamment soils of Rajasthan.