Agronomic Biofortification of Zinc in Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.)

Zinc malnutrition poses a major health issue for human beings globally. Agronomic bio-fortification explores the feasibility to control the zinc deficiency related disorders of the human population. Field experiment was conducted in a red and lateritic soil of Ranchi on 23 wheat cultivars with soil and foliar applications of ZnSO₄ ⋅ 7H₂O. Zinc content of wheat grain increased from 38.86 to 77.17 mg/kg with soil application and to 76.49 mg/kg with soil + foliar application of Zn. Total Zn uptake by wheat (grain + straw) cultivars with soil + foliar application of Zn was significantly higher in short (933 g/ha) and long (960 g/ha) duration cultivars compared to that with soil application. Apparent Zn recovery in wheat also improved with soil + foliar application of Zn fertilizer, suggested that agronomic bio-fortification of zinc is possible in wheat and can prevent Zn malnutrition in human beings to a considerable extent.