Influence of genetic variability on zinc, iron and manganese responses in wheat

Zinc, iron and manganese deficiencies are the major problem in wheat production when grown on highly permeable light textured soils, low in organic matter content and continuously cropped with rice. A field experiment was conducted during winter season 2008-09 to study the genotypic differences in response to fourteen varieties of wheat to zinc, iron and manganese under marginal fertility status soil. The treatments for Zn, Fe and Mn consist of control (Zn-0), 12.5 kg ZnSO4 ha(-1), 25 kg ZnSO4 ha(-1) (recommended), 37.5 kg ZnSO4 ha(-1) and 0.5% foliar application of ZnSO4 for Zn, for Fe is control (Fe-0), 25 kg FeSO4 ha(-1), 50 kg FeSO4 ha(-1), 75 kg FeSO4 ha(-1) and 1.0% foliar application of FeSO4 (recommended) and for Mn the treatments are control (Mn-0), 25 kg MnSO4 ha(-1), 50 kg MnSO4 ha(-1), 75 kg MnSO4 ha(-1) and 1.0% foliar application of MnSO4 (recommended). Application of recommended doses of Zn @ 25 kg ZnSO4 ha(-1), Fe and Mn @1.0% foliar produced significant yield response in Zn, Fe and Mn susceptible genotypes of wheat varied from 17.74 to 32.02%, 13.65-29.15% and 15.98-27.78%, respectively. There were considerable variations among all the fourteen wheat varieties in yield response, content and uptake of Zn. Fe and Mn. Based on the percent yield response, the differential susceptibility of wheat varieties PBW 343 and C 306 were grouped as efficient and WH 147, RAJ 3765 and WH 896 was the most inefficient to Zn, Fe and Mn stress conditions. The differential yield responses among the varieties were found closely linked to Zn, Fe and Mn utilization efficiencies when applied either as soil and or foliar spray. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier B.V.