• Abstract

•  alokpaulsau@yahoo.com

A field experiment was carried out to study the effect of foliar application of zinc on growth and yield of wheat (BARI gom-25) grown under water stress condition in the farm of the Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU), Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207 under the AEZ 28 (Madhupur Tract) on November, 2013 to March, 2014. The experiment was designed in randomized complete block for factor A (represented as irrigation), with factor B (represented as Zn application) a split plot on factor A with 16 treatments combination comprising 4 irrigation treatments regular irrigation, skipped irrigation at crown root initiation, skipped irrigation at booting stage and skipped irrigation at heading and flowering stage of growth) and four application of zinc i.e. one as soil application (Zn_Soil: 2 kg ha^-1) and three as foliar application (Zn₁: 0.02%, Zn₂:0.04% and Zn₃: 0.06% of zinc). Zinc Sulphate Monohydrate (ZnSO_4.H₂O) was used as a source of Zn. Water at crown root initiation stage had the most negative effect on growth and yield of wheat. The interaction effect of irrigation and foliar application of zinc significantly influenced the yield and yield components of wheat. The highest yield (3.57 t ha^-1) was recorded in the combined treatment Zn₂ that received skipping irrigation at flowering and heading stage along with 0.04% foliar application of zinc. Thus, foliar application of zinc played a major role on yield and yield components of wheat under water stress condition.

Keywords :   Wheat, zinc, water stress, yield