Iron and Zinc Bio-fortification through Agronomic Intervention in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Essential micronutrients are required for humans to sustain proper physiological body processes and a healthy health condition. Micronutrient deficiencies, such as iron, zinc, and iodine, create global health concerns for people. Zinc and iron deficiency are frequent in chickpea growing regions across the world. Bio-fortification of pulse grains, especially with Fe and Zn by agronomic bio-fortification, is the simplest, most practical, and quickest method. During the Rabi season of 2019–20, a field experiment was done at the Bairiya Dhab Research Farm of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar, India, to find out effect on chickpea genotypes when Zn and Fe were added to the soil and the leaves. Two genotypes (GCP-105 and GNG-2264) and seven fertilization treatments (control, 0.5% Zn, 0.5% Fe, soil application of Zn and Fe, 25 and 15 kg/ha, respectively) were used in a split plot design with three replications. The GNG-2264 variety had a significantly higher plant height, yield and yield characteristics, such as number of pods per plant, test weight, seed and straw yield and economics viz. gross return, net return (62860 and 37986 ₹/ha), and B: C ratio (2.52) than GCP-105. Among the fertilization treatments, RDF + Zn (0.5%) and Fe (0.5%) foliar spraying at the pre-flowering and pod development stage recorded significantly higher growth and yield parameters viz., plant height (59.89 cm), number of pods/plant (22.31), seed yield (1283 kg/ha) and straw yields 2433 kg/ha), and quality parameters such as zinc and iron content in seed (31.84 and 17.40 ppm) and straw (72.26, 21.79 ppm, respectively) and economics in term of gross return, net return, and B: C ratio.