Effect of Iron and Urea Application on Iron Biofortification of Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.)

Agronomic biofortification with iron (Fe) may be a viable approach to combat the widespread deficiency of Fe in humans. Thus, the present study was conducted to examine the effect of Fe and urea foliar application on Fe biofortification in lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.). The field experiments were conducted at two locations viz. Ludhiana and Faridkot, India. Different treatment combinations of foliar spray of sole Fe (0.5% of FeSO4.7 H2O), sole urea (2% urea), and combined application of Fe and urea at flowering, pod formation, and flowering + pod formation stages along with unsprayed control were applied to lentil. The results of the study revealed that the combined foliar application of Fe and urea at flowering + pod formation stages was the most effective in enhancing grain yield, Fe and zinc (Zn) concentration in plants (at flowering as well as pod formation stage), stover and grain (whole and split). The highest Fe concentration in whole (36% higher over control) as well as split (32.9% higher over control) grain and protein content (21% higher over control) was obtained with foliar application of Fe + urea at flowering + pod formation stages. Conclusively, the combined foliar application of 0.5% FeSO4.7 H2O and 2% urea at flowering + pod formation stages may prove to be a feasible option for increasing grain yield and enrichment of lentils with Fe and Zn to combat micronutrient malnutrition in human populations.

Automated summary

The combined foliar application of Fe and urea at the flowering and pod formation stages proved to be the most effective in increasing lentil grain yield and enriching it with Fe and Zn.