1

Effect of Micronutrient Application on

Crop Productivity and Major Nutrients Use

Efficiency

2

C.S.K.H.P.K.V. Palampur

Munish Sharma

Dept. of Soil Science

College of Agriculture

3

Contents

Introduction

Factor affecting nutrient availability

Role of micronutrients

Available form of micronutrients

Adverse effect of micronutrient deficiency

Effect of micro nutrients on crop productivity

Effect of micronutrient on nutrients use efficiency

Conclusion

Introduction

• Micronutrients have been called minor or trace elementsindicating that their concentration in plant tissues areminor or in trace amounts relative to the macronutrients(Mortvedt,2000)

• Micronutrients are essential for the normal growth ofplants. Deficiencies of micronutrient drastically affectsthe growth, metabolism and reproductive phase of plants

• The essential micronutrients are zinc(Zn),manganese(Mn), copper(Cu), iron(Fe), boron(B),molybdenum(Mo) and chlorine(Cl)

• These micronutrients are as important as major nutrientsfor plant development and profitable crop production

4

Contd….

5

Nutrient deficiencies are not restricted

only to N,P,K but have also extended to Zn,

B, Fe, and S (Singh 1999 ; Swarup and

Ganeshamurthy 1998).

The trend of micronutrient deficiencies is

changing i.e. instead of single nutrient

deficiency, cluster of micronutrient

deficiencies are exhibited. Deficiencies of Zn

and Fe are widespread followed by Mn and B

under Indian conditions

6

Micronutrient deficiencies in crop plants are

widespread due to :

Intensive cropping practices and adoption of

high yielding cultivars

Enhanced production of crops on marginal

soils

increased use of high analysis fertilizers

Decreased use of animal manures,

composts, and crop residues.

Cultivation on soils that are inherently low in

micronutrients reserves

7

Factor affecting micronutrient

availability

• Total content in soil

• Soil texture

• Organic matter content

• Soil pH

• Soil aeration

• Nutrient interaction

8

9

As pH increases zinc, iron, manganese, copper and boron decreases in

availability, while molybdenum increases in availability

General Conditions conducive to micronutrient

deficiency/ toxicity

Leached, Sandy Soils

Organic Soils

Intensive Cropping

Extremes of pH

Eroded Soils

Parent Materials

10

11

Zinc Aids plant growth hormones

and enzyme system

Necessary for chlorophyll

production

Necessary for carbohydrate

and starch formation.

Aids in seed formation.

Corn –

for Zn deficiency

12

COPPER

Catalyses several plant processes

Major function in photosynthesis

Increases sugar content

Intensifies colour

Improves flavour of fruits and vegetables.

13

Manganese

Function as a part of

certain enzyme systems

Aids in chlorophyll

synthesis

Involved in N metabolism

and assimilation.

14

BORON

Essential for germination

of pollen grains and growth

of pollen tubes.

Essential for seed and cell

wall formation.

Promotes maturity

Necessary for sugar translocation

15

Molybdenum

Required to form the

“nitrate reductase” which

reduces nitrate to

ammonium in plant.

Aids in the formation of

legume nodules.

Needed to convert

inorganic phosphates to

organic forms in the plant.

16

CHLORINE Activator of enzyme.

Enhances maturity of

small grains

IRONPromotes formation of

chlorophyll

Acts as a oxygen carrier

Reactions involving cell

division and growth

Threshold deficiency level of nutrients in

the Himalayan region

Nutrient Critical level (mg/kg)

Iron 4.5

Manganese 1.0

Copper 0.2

Zinc 0.6

Boron 0.1

Molybdenum 0.1

17

18

Element

Critical

level

Sufficient

level

Toxicity

level

Fe (mg/ kg) <50 50-250 Non toxic

Zn (mg/ kg) 15-20 20-100 >400

Mn (mg/ kg) 10.0-20.0 20-300 >300

Cu (mg/ kg) 3.0-5.0 5.0-20.0 >20

B (mg/ kg) <10.0 10-100 >100

Mo (mg/ kg) <0.1 0.1-0.5 >0.5

Cl (%) <0.2 0.2-2.0 >2.0

Guideline for critical, sufficient and

toxic levels of plant Nutrients

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• Yield decrease

• Lower crop quality

• Widespread infestation of various

diseases and pests

• Increased bio and non-bio-stresses

• Lower fertilizer use efficiencies

Available forms of micronutrients

Element Dominant soil solution forms

Iron Fe2+, Fe(OH)2+, Fe(OH)2+, Fe3+

Manganese Mn2+

Zinc Zn2+, Zn(OH)+

Copper Cu2+, Cu(OH)+

Molybdenum MoO42-, HMoO4

-

Boron H3BO3, H2BO3-

Cobalt Co2+

Chlorine Cl-

Nickel Ni2+, Ni3+

20

Crop response to micronutrients on

mineral soils

Crop Boron Copper Iron Manganese Zinc

Wheat Low Medium Medium Medium Medium

Rice Low Medium Medium Medium High

Soybeans Medium Low Low High Medium

Barley Low Medium Low Medium Medium

Potatoes Low Low Low High Low

Cabbage High Medium Low Medium Medium

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22

Effect of micronutrient application on

crop productivity

Effect of potassium and zinc on wheat

yield (g/pot)

K Levels (mg/kg) Levels of zinc (mg/kg)

0 2.5 5.0 10.0

0 4.5 4.8 5.0 4.0

30 4.9 5.1 5.3 4.4

60 5.5 5.5 4.8 4.5

120 5.2 5.4 5.5 4.6

CD (P=0.05) K or Zn 0.07

23

Singh et al. (1993)Location: Bichpuri, Agra (U.P.)

Sandy loam soil, pH =8.1

Effect of Boron and Manganese on grain

yield of wheat( g/pot)

Mn levels

(mg/kg)

B levels( mg/kg)

0.0 0.5 1.0 2.0

0.0 5.00 5.80 6.60 4.00

2.5 5.90 6.80 7.40 4.80

5.0 6.26 7.00 7.60 5.12

10.0 6.20 6.80 7.20 4.70

CD (P=0.05) 0.18

24

Singh et al.(2000)Location: Bichpuri, Agra (U.P.)

Sandy loam soil, pH =8.3

Effect of Mo and B on yield of wheat

Treatments Yield ( g /pot )

Grain Straw

Boron levels mg kg-1

0.0 3.2 3.9

0.5 3.8 4.5

1.0 3.5 4.4

2.0 3.1 3.6

CD( P= 0.05) 0.35 0.36

Mo levels mg kg-1

0.0 3.2 3.7

0.5 3.3 4.0

1.0 4.0 4.8

2.0 3.1 3.9

CD ( P=0.05) 0.35 0.36

25

Singh et al.(1992)

Location : Bichpuri, Agra

Sandy loam soil, pH =8.3

Effect of foliar application of micronutrients

on wheat yield

Treatments Plant

height

(cm)

No. of

spikes/m2

No. of

spikelet/

spike

No. of

grains/

spike

Grain yield

( kg/ha)

Control 99.7 368.0 19.9 57.8 6267.85

Cu 500ppm 108.6 425.3 21.1 64.3 7039.28

Mn 500 110.3 436.4 21.5 65.2 7167.85

Fe 500 108.5 423.1 21.3 64.7 7071.42

Zn 500ppm 112.1 445.7 21.7 66.1 7342.8

Mixture 116.1 468.9 22.1 69.8 7517.85

CD 5% 0.9 7.8 0.2 0.5 S

26Seadh et al.(2009)

Location: Tag Al-Ezz (Egypt)

Clay loam, pH= 7.6-7.8

Effect of zinc application on yield and yield

attributes of rice

Zinc

(Kg/ha)

Plant

height

( cm)

No. of

panicle /

sq.m

Days to

maturity

Yield

( t/ha)

0 95.8 299.7 130.5 5.47

15 92.4 334.8 128.3 5.96

30 94.4 338.7 127.3 5.75

45 93.9 342.8 124.8 5.76

CD 5% NS NS NS NS

27Yakan et al. 1999

Location: Edirne province(Turkey)

Texture : clay loam, pH =7.7

Effect of zinc on grain and stover

yield of maize

Zn levels

( kg/ha)

Grain yield

(q/ha)

Stover yield

(q/ha)

0 25.04 63.86

2.5 27.35 69.01

5 29.70 74.83

10 29.00 71.82

CD (P=0.05) 1.25 3.06

28

Dwivedi et al.(2002)Location : Kanpur (U.P.)

Sandy loam, pH =7.7-7.8

Effect of zinc and manganese on tuber yield of

potato

Treatments No. of

tuber/ plant

Mean tuber weight

(g)

Tuber yield

(kg/ha)

Zn levels (ppm)

0 9.47b 70.52b 27340c

2 10.48a 70.82b 29390b

4 10.95a 72.38b 32500a

8 10.99a 75.59a 34170a

CD (P =0.01) ** ** **

Mn levels (ppm)

0 10.20b 69.80b 29360c

2 10.46ab 72.97a 31350b

4 11.22a 73.48a 33866a

8 9.96b 70.70ab 28380c

CD(P=0.01) ** ** **

29Mousavi et al. (2007)Location :Lorestan (Iran)

Clay loam soil, pH 7.8

Zinc and Iron fertilization effect on growth

and yield of potatoTreatments Plant

height

( cm)

No. of

shoots/

plant

No. of

leaves /

plant

No. of

tubers /

plant

Weight/

tuber

Total tuber

yield (q/ha )

Zinc kg ha-1

10 31.71 3.61 25.23 3.35 86.43 193.3

15 28.42 3.32 23.74 2.80 90.32 166.6

20 29.63 3.49 24.63 3.03 90.52 177.3

25 32.8 3.92 27.37 3.24 95.62 202.6

CD at 5% NS 0.33 NS 0.21 5.4 18.3

Fe level: 5 30.11 3.37 26.1 3.11 86.04 187.2

10 27.62 3.18 24.3 2.99 89.97 178.3

15 28.93 3.2 24.8 3.01 96.14 190.0

CD at 5% NS NS NS NS NS 10.3

30Bhat and Jandial (1996)Location : Ponichak, Jammu

Sandy loam soil, pH =6.4-6.5

Effect of micronutrients on yield and yield

attributes of chilli

Treatments Plant

ht.

( cm)

No. of

branches/

plant

No. of

fruits /

plant

Yield q/ha

( red ripe)

Control 60.52 7.46 157.45 18.88

Zn 0.1% 65.54 9.12 174.18 23.38

Fe 0.1% 62.28 8.64 164.84 19.90

B 0.1% 63.64 8.96 169.14 20.49

Zn 0.1% +Fe 0.1% 67.58 9.44 177.26 25.08

Zn 0.1%+ B 0.1% 68.24 10.94 181.52 26.04

Fe 0.1% + B 0.1% 63.92 9.02 172.66 22.32

Zn 0.1% + Fe 0.1% + B

0.1%70.36 11.12 184.12 28.82

CD at 5% 3.74 2.29 5.31 2.38

Hatwar et al., 2003Location : Nagpur 31

Response of boron and calcium on plant growth, fruit and

seed production of tomato

Treatment Plant

height (cm)

No. of

branches/

plant

No. of

fruits/

plant

Fruit

yield q/ha

Seed

yield/ ha

Boron level (kg borax/ha)

10 166.6 7.7 18.9 635.7 176.5

20 189.2 9.2 23.1 762.7 246.2

30 177.3 8.1 20.2 657.7 203.4

CD at 5% 9.0 0.5 0.9 37.6 13.7

Ca level (Kg calcium carbonate /ha)

10 186.5 8.8 23.8 783.4 243.7

20 176.2 8.4 19.9 665.4 199.6

30 170.3 7.8 18.6 607.3 182.9

CD at 5 % 9.0 0.5 0.9 37.6 13.7

32Sharma (1995)

Location :Kandaghat, Solan

Sandy loam soil

Effect of Zinc, Boron and Iron on plant growth

and yield of brinjal

Treatments Plant ht. at

harvest

(cm)

No. of

fruits/plant

Fruit

yield/plant

(kg)

Fruit yield

(t/ha)

Control 80.07 14.43 0.99 15.80

ZnSO4 (0.2%) 83.70 17.18 1.40 21.52

FeSO4 (0.5%) 82.37 15.02 1.22 19.48

Borax

(0.2%)

80.75 14.73 1.02 16.65

CD (P=0.05) 2.41 0.92 0.06 1.43

33Kiran et al.(2010)Location :Saidapur (Dharwad)

Effect of S and Mo on cauliflower yield (t/ha)

Mo levels

( g ha-1 )

S levels ( kg ha-1 )

0 20 40

0 29.2 39.0 44.7

80 35.4 40.7 44.9

160 30.4 43.1 48.8

CD (P= 0.05) S=6.9 , Mo= NS

34Jaggi and Dixit (1995)

Location : Sadarpur (kangra) HP

Silty clay loam, pH 6.5

Effect of zinc on yield of cauliflower

Zinc concentration

( %)

Curd Yield (q/ha )

0.0 ( control) 132.79

0.3 134.04

0.6 137.53

0.9 152.91

1.2 158.38

1.5 147.43

CD at 5 % 2.58

35

Singh et al. (1991)Location : Faizabad (U.P.)

Sandy loam soil, pH 8.4

Effect of nickel on yield of chickpea, lentil

and mustard

Treatment

mg Ni / kg soil

Grain Yield (g/pot)

Chickpea Lentil Mustard

0 7.3 4.2 3.1

2.5 7.3 4.2 3.2

5.0 6.9 3.6 3.3

7.5 6.0 3.4 3.1

10.0 5.2 3.1 3.0

20.0 4.3 2.3 2.5

CD (P=0.05) 0.93 0.45 0.32

36Gupta et al. (1996)Location :Hisar (Haryana)

Loamy sand soil.pH =8.0

Effect of zinc application on yield attributes

and yield of mustard

Zn levels (kg

Zn/ha)

Yield attributes Yield (q/ha)

No. of

siliquae/ plant

No. of seeds/

siliqua

Seed yield Total dry

matter yield

0 242.65 11.65 15.95 65.52

1.25 246.30 12.10 16.96 69.77

2.50 246.15 12.40 17.65 69.93

5.00 248.58 12.35 17.85 71.15

7.50 303.70 14.58 17.95 69.69

10.00 246.25 12.10 17.49 68.18

CD (P=0.05) 30.71 0.23 0.87 NS

37Khan et al.(2003)

Location :Badaun Distt (U.P.)

Loamy sand soil, pH 7.9

Table 16: Effect of boron application on

groundnut yield

B levels

(kg/ha)

Yield (q/ha )

Pod Straw

0 11.4 23.9

1.5 13.2 35.3

3.0 15.3 41.9

4.5 11.9 33.7

38Kumar et al.(1996)

Location : Ranchi, Bihar

Acid soil

Effect of molybdenum on oil content and

yield of groundnut

Treatments Oil content Pod yield

(g/ha)

Control 47.88 14.09

Mo @2g/ kg

seed

49.40 17.46

Mo @4g/ kg

seed

50.09 18.62

CD ( P=0.05) 0.30 4.37

39Behera et al.(2011)

Effect of micronutrients on

nutrient use efficiency

40

Effect of K and Zn on uptake of K by wheat

( mg/pot)

K Levels (mg/kg) Levels of zinc (mg/kg)

0 2.5 5.0 10.0

0 22.5 23.5 22.0 16.8

30 26.5 27.5 26.5 19.4

60 31.0 31.4 30.7 22.5

120 32.7 33.0 30.8 24.4

CD (P=0.05) K or Zn =1.14

41Singh and Kumar (1993)

Location: Bichpuri, Agra (U.P.)

Sandy loam soil, pH =8.1

30 79.33 62 62.33 45.66

60 82 70.16 65.16 43.33

120 43 38.41 33.41 30.08

Potassium use efficiency(%)

Effect of ZnSO4 application on yield and Nitrogen use efficiency by wheat

Treatment Yield (q /ha) Total N

uptake

(kg/ha)

Nitrogen

use

Efficiency

(%)

Grain Straw

Control 43.3 48.7 68.8 _

12.5 kg ZnSO4ha-1 (soil) 47.7 55.0 91.2 22.4

25 kg ZnSO4ha-1 (soil) 49.5 56.7 125.2 56.4

CD (P=0.05) 1.2 1.2 6.9

42Khandkar et al. (1992)Location : Mandsaur (M.P.)

Clay texture soil , pH =8.1

Influence of copper on phosphorus and

potassium uptake by rice

Copper(mg/kg) P uptake(g/kg) K uptake(g/kg)

0 3.03 34.67

2 3.17 35.33

4 3.10 38.33

8 3.27 33.33

16 2.77 37.67

32 2.93 36.67

64 2.93 37.67

96 1.63 26.67

43Frageria (2002)Location : Brazil

Soil pH=5.3

Effect of nitrogen and manganese on N uptake

by wheat (mg/g)

Levels of N (ppm) Levels of Mn (ppm)

0 5 10 20

0 20.6 20.2 24.3 26.5

30 21.6 23.4 25.6 27.0

60 22.5 24.0 24.8 27.7

90 23.5 25.0 27.4 28.9

CD (5%) N or Mn 0.007

44Singh (1990)Location : Bichpuri ( U.P.)

Sandy loam soil , pH 8.6

Effect of Zinc and Iron on K uptake

by wheat

Treatments

(kg/ha)

Grain yield

(kg/ha)

K uptake

(kg/ha)

Zinc 0 3157 8.38

25 3510 9.89

50 3664 10.60

CD @ 5% 216 0.90

Iron 0 3377 8.38

50 3511 9.89

CD @ 5% NS NS

45

Polara et al. (2008)Location : Junagadh( Gujarat)

Calcareous soil , pH= 7.8

Table 23: Effect of sulphur and zinc on S

uptake by maizeTreatments S uptake by grain S uptake by straw

S levels (kg/ha)

0 4.17 1.96

15 5.17 2.61

30 5.92 3.27

45 5.84 3.33

Zn levels ( kg/ha)

0 4.48 1.96

2.5 5.17 2.77

5 5.85 3.36

10 5.63 3.06

CD (P=0.05) S or Zn

0.120 0.115

S or Zn

0.017 0.02

46Singh et al. (2006)Location : Jharkhand

Acidic soil , pH =5.9-6.2

Effect of zinc on nutrient N ,P and K in maize

Treatments Uptake (kg/ha)

N K P

Zn(kg/ha)

15 56.04 15.67 14.88

30 61.44 18.67 18.42

CD (P=0.05) 2.67 1.06 1.04

47Arya and Singh 2000

Location : IARI, New Delhi.

Sandy loam soil, pH =7.5

Effect of Zinc on uptake of potassium

by cotton

Zinc ( kg/ha) K uptake (kg/ha)

Seed

cotton

Stalk Total

0 22.35 17.59 39.93

25 23.89 19.27 43.16

50 24.49 19.51 43.98

CD @ 5% 1.43 NS 2.42

48

Polara et al. (2008)Location : Saurashtra region (Gujarat)

Calcareous soil

Effect of sulphur and boron on sulphur uptake

(kg/ha) by soybean

S Levels ( kg/ha) Boron levels( kg/ha)

0 0.5 1.0 2.0

0 8.80 9.78 11.03 11.45

20 11.55 12.73 14.73 15.00

40 13.90 16.00 18.00 18.10

60 15.08 16.75 18.18 16.88

CD (P= 0.05) S= 0.95 , B = 0.95

49

Singh et al. (2006)

Location :Darisai (Jharkhand)

Coarse texture soil, Acidic soil.

pH= 5.9-6.2

20 13.75 14.75 18.5 17.75

40 12.75 8.17 17.42 16.62

60 10.46 11.61 11.91 9.05

Sulphur use efficiency (%)

Effect of molybdenum on uptake of N and

P by Green Gram

Mo ( kg/ha) Uptake by seed ( kg/ha)

N P

0 34.3 4.52

0.5 40.1 5.24

1.0 42.0 5.59

CV % 9.62 8.65

50

Patel et al. (2008)Location :Sardarkrushinagar

Soil: loamy sand in texture

51

Conclusion

Micronutrients in crop production are important, and they

deserve equal attention similar to that of macronutrients.

Micronutrient deficiency drastically affect the growth and

inhibits different metabolic and enzymatic activities.

Application of micronutrients significantly increases the

yield of cereal, vegetables, oilseed and pulse crops.

Micronutrient application also enhances the uptake of

nutrients like N,P,K and S.

52

Thanks