Role of zinc application from organic and biological sources on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) productivity under semi-arid conditions

The present study was carried out during the Rabi season at the pot house of the Department of Agricultural Sciences and Allied Industries, Rama University, Kanpur, situated in the Central Plain Zone of Uttar Pradesh. The experiment aimed to evaluate the impact of various fertilizer treatments on wheat yield and soil fertility. The treatments included: T1 - Control, T2 - Recommended Dose of Fertilizers (RDF; 120:60:40 kg ha⁻¹), T3 - RDF + 5 kg ZnSO₄ ha⁻¹, T4 - RDF + 10 kg ZnSO₄ ha⁻¹, T5 - RDF + Seed treatment with Zinc Solubilizing Bacteria (ZSB), T6 - RDF + ZnSO₄ ha⁻¹ + ZSB seed treatment, T7 - RDF + 10 kg ZnSO₄ ha⁻¹ + ZSB seed treatment. The treatments showed significant differences in their effects on soil fertility and the grain and straw yields of wheat. The application of 100% RDF combined with ZnSO₄ and ZSB seed treatment resulted in significantly higher growth and yield parameters. These included plant height (cm), dry matter accumulation (g m⁻²), number of effective tillers (m⁻²), grains per spike, 1000-grain weight (g), harvest index (%), grain yield (38.40 q ha⁻¹), and straw yield (63.3 q ha⁻¹). The integration of organic and inorganic fertilizers along with biofertilizers notably enhanced the organic carbon content in soil. A combination of 100% NPK with FYM, ZnSO₄, Mn, and Fe yielded higher productivity and profitability, and also improved residual soil fertility after wheat cultivation. The highest bioavailable zinc levels were observed with foliar (30%) and soil application (28%). Across both tillage systems, maximum economic returns were achieved through zinc seed priming, with zero tillage (ZT) providing greater net benefits than conventional plough tillage (PT) due to reduced input costs. Overall, zinc application through various methods enhanced wheat productivity, economic returns, and grain biofortification under both PT and ZT conditions.