Evaluation of zinc sources and concentrations for urea coating to increase soil fertility and productivity in spring maize (Zea mays)

Abstract

In order to determine the effectiveness of zinc oxide and zinc sulfate for urea coating to increase maize (Zea
mays L.) production, an experiment was carried out in 2021 and 2022 at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize
Research research farm in Ludhiana, Punjab. Eleven treatments, including no zinc, 0.05% zinc through ZnO,
0.12% zinc through ZnO, 0.24% zinc through ZnO, 0.47% zinc through ZnO, 0.95% zinc through ZnO, 0.26%
zinc through ZnSO4, 0.52% zinc through ZnSO4, 1.03% zinc through ZnSO4, 2.07% zinc through ZnSO4, were
replicated three times. Zn at 2.07% (5.68 and 6.36) and 4.15% (5.71 and 6.37) through ZnSO4 recorded higher
grain yield, followed by 0.95% of Zn (5.50 and 6.23) through ZnO and 1.03% (5.42 and 6.25) through ZnSO4 in
2021 and 2022. With 4.15% (27.70 and 27.87 mg/kg) and 2.07% (26.33 and 27.67 mg/kg) of Zn by ZnSO4,
grain had a greater Zn content. In spring maize, Zn at 2.07% via ZnSO4 was shown to be appropriate for urea
coating to improve productivity, soil enzymatic activities, and residual soil fertility.