Vol. 8, Issue 2 (2019)

Author(s):
Zahoor Ahmad Mir, Ram Bharose, Ekta Pathak, Satyendra Nath and Tarence Thomas

Abstract:
Pot experiment was conducted in greenhouse to investigate the effect of chelating agent and chemical fertilizer on zinc uptake by Sunflower. Pots were treated with different EDTA (0, 5, 7 and 9 mM/kg) and NH₄Cl (0, 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg) concentrations three to four weeks after sowing. The results showed that chelating agent and ammonium chloride alone and their interaction had significant effect on zinc uptake. The data revealed that maximum zinc uptake was observed by high concentration of chelating agent and ammonium chloride alone with respect to control. The best treatment for maximum uptake of zinc was noted in pots applied with combination of 9 mM EDTA/kg and 300 mg/kg NH₄Cl with respect to EDTA and NH₄Cl alone and control. The results indicated that the study crop can tolerate heavy metal concentration and chelating agent and ammonium chloride fertilizer had potential to promote the uptake of zinc.