Effects of planting date and zinc oxide nano fertilizer on growth and yield of lentil (Lens culinaris L.) in two agroecological zones

This study examined how using zinc oxide, time, and place of planting influence important biochemical and physiological characteristics that affect crop yield. Zinc is an essential micronutrient that increases enzyme activity, regulates plant hormones, and enhances stress tolerance under varying environmental conditions, so it is important to supplement with zinc. The results of the study found that the optimum planting time (October), seed yield is highest with moderate zinc oxide levels (2.5 ppm) and structural growth characteristics such as the number of nodes and pods per plant, etc. On the other hand, zinc oxide concentration is higher (5 ppm), improving various characteristics such as root length and plant height, and the growing situation at the end of the period demonstrates efficiency. Although this will have a limited impact on overall productivity. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis revealed different efficacy patterns between treatments. Highlighting the important interactions between nutrient management, planting time, and location, correlation analysis revealed strong relationships between seed yield and traits such as site germination rate and number of nodes. This emphasizes the physiological interdependence that drives productivity. These findings provide practical insights into optimizing zinc oxide use and planting strategies to increase plant growth and resilience under various conditions.