TY  - JOUR
AV  - public
A1  - Srinivasa Rao, Ch
A1  - Wani, S P
A1  - Sahrawat, K L
A1  - Rego, T J
A1  - Pardhasaradhi, G
TI  - Zinc, boron and sulphur deficiencies are holding back the
potential of rainfed crops in semi-arid India: Experiences
from participatory watershed management

UR  - http://oar.icrisat.org/2475/
JF  - International Journal of Plant Production
SN  - 1735-6814
PB  - Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
N1  - We thank Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, Asian Development Bank, World Bank for special fund for watershed development and Government of Karnataka for the financial support of
various projects under which these studies are undertaken. We sincerely thank the farmers
who actively collaborated for undertaking Participatory Research and Development trials.

N2  - Little attention has been paid to the diagnosis of deficiencies of micronutrients such as zinc (Zn)
and boron (B) and secondary nutrient such as sulphur (S) in rainfed systems. We evaluated Zn, B and
S status of 1617 farmers? fields in 14 districts of the semi-arid tropical India. Results showed that
most of the soil samples were low to medium in organic carbon contents. Results also revealed that
Zn deficiency ranged from 2 to 100%, B deficiency ranged form 0 to 100%, and S deficiency ranged
from 40 to 100% in farmers? fields across the districts. On-farm trials were conducted to study the
response of rainfed crops to Zn, B and S application, and the residual effects of B and S, genotypic
variations in chickpea cultivars in response to these nutrients and the economics of Zn, B and S use.
Results from on-farm trials conducted during 2002-2006 showed significant yield responses of finger
millet, maize, sunflower, soybean, groundnut and chickpea to application of Zn, B and S. There was
significant residual effect of B and S applied to rainy season soybean on post-rainy season chickpea.
Among genotypes of chickpea, KAK-2 was more responsive than other cultivars. Application of Zn,
B and S also significantly increased the uptake of Zn, B and S in the crop biomass. Results also
showed that application of Zn, B and S along with N+P was economical and critical for higher and
sustained productivity of rainfed crops in semi-arid regions of India.

KW  - Balanced nutrition
KW  -  Boron
KW  -  Residual effects
KW  -  Semi-arid tropics
KW  -  Sulphur
KW  -  Zinc
Y1  - 2008///
SP  - 89
ID  - icrisat2475
EP  - 99
VL  - 2
IS  - 1
ER  -