Authors: M A Hossain M Jahiruddin M R Islam M H Mian
Publish Date: 2008/01/10
Volume: 306, Issue: 1-2, Pages: 13-22
Abstract
A study was made over 3 years to find out an optimum rate of Zn application for the maize–mungbean–rice cropping system in a calcareous soil of Bangladesh Zinc application was made at 0 2 and 4 kg ha−1 for maize cv Pacific 984 Thai hybrid and at 0 1 and 2 kg ha−1 for rice cv BRRI dhan33 with no Zn application for mungbean cv BARI mung5 Effect of Zn was evaluated in terms of yield and mineral nutrients contents N P S and Zn All the three crops responded significantly to Zn application The optimum rate of Zn for the maize–mungbean–rice cropping system was found to be 4–0–2 kg ha−1 for the first year and 2–0–2 kg ha−1 for subsequent years particularly when mungbean residue was removed and such rates for mungbean residue incorporation being 4–0–1 and 2–0–1 kg ha−1 respectively For all crops the Zn and N concentrations of grain were significantly increased with Zn application For the case of grainS the concentration was significantly increased for maize and mungbean but it remained unchanged for rice The grainP concentration on the other hand tended to decrease with Zn application For maize the grainZn concentration increased to 270 μg g−1 due to 2 kg Zn ha−1 treatment from 165 μg g−1 for Zn control and at higher Zn rate 4 kg Zn ha−1 the increment was very minimum Another field experiment was performed over 3 years on the same soil to screen out maize varieties for Zn efficiency Of the eight varieties tested the BARI maize 6 and BARI hybrid maize 3 were found Zn inresponsive Zn efficient and the others Zn responsive Zninefficient
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