Vol. 12, Issue 8 (2023)

Author(s):
JR Vala, NN Gudadhe, SN Makwana and DK. Patel

Abstract:
The investigation entitled, “Biofortification potential of zinc, iron, arbuscular mycorrhiza and Trichoderma on growth parameters of maize” was carried out in Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, during the rabi seasons of 2021 and 2022. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with factorial concept and replicated three times. There were seven soil application treatments of Zn and Fe and four biofertilizers seed treatments namely, S₁: Control, S₂: ZnSO₄ at 15 kg/ha, S₃: ZnSO₄ at 30 kg/ha, S₄: FeSO₄ at 15 kg/ha, S₅: FeSO₄ at 30 kg/ha, S₆: ZnSO₄ + FeSO₄ at 15 kg/ha, S₇: ZnSO₄ + FeSO₄ at 30 kg/ha and B₁: Control, B₂: Arbuscular mycorrhiza, B₃: Trichoderma, B₄: Arbuscular mycorrhiza + Trichoderma. Results revealed that among the soil applications of Zn and Fe, significantly, higher value for number of leaves per plant, dry matter accumulation per plant and plant height at different growth stages were recorded under treatment ZnSO₄ + FeSO₄ at 30 kg/ha. Significantly, lowest value for all growth parameters at different growth stages were obtained under control. Among the various bioinoculants seed treatments, significantly, higher value for growth parameters were recorded under seed treatment of Arbuscular mycorrhiza + Trichoderma. Significantly, lowest value for all the characters were recorded under control.