Search Articles

Home / Articles

ZINC BIO-FORTIFICATION IN WHEAT AND IMPACT ON YIELD AND GRAIN CONTENTS UNDER RAIN FED CONDITIONS OF PAKISTAN

. SYED HAIDER ABBAS, SAMMAN GUL VASEER, MAQSOOD QAMAR, SIKANDER KHAN TANVEER, IMTIAZ HUSSAIN, MUHAMMAD SOHAIL, SUNDAS WAQAR, MUHAMMAD USMAN and HUMAIRA IQBAL


Abstract

Hidden hunger is emerging as a major contest for agricultural researchers as world population is increasing at high pace and food production is augmenting. Metals deficiencies (micronutrient malnutrition), especially Zn and Fe, are affecting over half of global population because they are depending cereal crops mainly wheat rice and maize for their daily diet.  (Zn) deficiency is a common disorder of humans and its deficiency caused by inadequate dietary intake is a global nutritional problem, particularly in developing countries. Therefore, zinc bio-fortification of wheat is being urgently addressed as the wheat is major staple food crop of Pakistan and its consumption is 110kg/capita/annum. Efforts are being made to supplement wheat whole grain with the addition of Zinc as a dietary complement. To address the issue an investigation was carried at NARC, Islamabad during 2018 having a RCBD (split plot) with three replications. Six Zinc management treatments (viz., T1=No  Zinc application  in soil and no foliar application, T2= No Zinc in soil + Foliar application of 0.44 Kg/ha at booting, T3=No Zinc in soil + Foliar application of 0.44 Kg/ha at booting & after anthesis, T4=11 Kg Zinc /ha in soil at planting, T5=11 kg Zinc/ha in soil + Foliar application of 0.44 Kg/ha at booting and  T6=11 kg Zinc/ha in soil + Foliar application of 0.44 Kg/ha at booting & after anthesis and Three Wheat varieties including an advanced line (Zincol-2016, Pakistan-2013 and NR-443) were tested for this purpose.

Download :