EFFECT OF MICRONUTRIENTS ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF WHEAT

Physiology and yield attributes of wheat variety Gomal-8 were evaluated using different levels of Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn and B alone and in different combinations. The results revealed that application of boron @ 2 kg ha^-1 produced higher leaf area index (0.33 and 3.49) and leaf area duration (2.30 and 48.90) at 49 and 98 days after sowing. The same treatment also enhanced crop growth rate (33.40 g m^-2 day^-1), number of grains (46.50 spike^-1) and grain yield (3.67 t ha^-1) of wheat. However, the use of copper @ 8 kg ha^-1 produced the maximum number of tillers (249 m^-2) and statistically at par grain yield (3.62 t ha^-1) similar to that of boron application. Higher net assimilation rate (3.19 mg m^-2 day^-1) was recorded when copper was applied @ 6 kg ha^-1. Among different micronutrients, zinc application produced minimum number of grains (37.75 spike^- 1) while the use of iron did not improve plant growth. The study showed that boron application improved the wheat grains and yield while the use of copper and manganese had also positive effect on wheat productivity.