Department of Plant Sciences

Delineation of micronutrients and sulphur in the soils of Gujarat and amelioration including soil application and seed treatment were carried out to boost crop production. About 28, 10 and 35 per cent of the soils were found deficient is available Zn, Fe and S respectively. It is found that the soil status should be monitored every 3-4 years or after the harvest of 8-10 crops to restore soil fertility especially of Zn and Fe. Management techniques revealed that it is better to apply N with Zn to rice in rice-wheat sequence; soil application of Zn and seed treatment of Mn and Mo in groundnut –wheat sequence; foliar application of 1% FeSO4 (without neutralization) in the case of drilled paddy. In the case of multimicronutrient deficiencies, different grades of micronutrients are suggested. In oil seed based crop sequence 20 kg ha-1 S to only oil seed crop in the sequence is recommended. Application of 10t ha-1 FYM + 10t ha-1 sewage sludge produced highest cabbage head yield. Similarly several liquid fertilizer @ 3.5 % resulted highest groundnut pod yield.