OPTIMIZING IRON AND ZINC NUTRITION IN MAIZE THROUGH SEED PRIMING AND FOLIAR APPLICATION UNDER DIFFERENT FERTILIZER REGIMES

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of fertilizer application, seed priming and foliar micronutrient supplementation on the growth, productivity and economic performance of maize (Zea mays L.). The study comprised two fertilizer levels, M1: 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF; 250:75:75 kg N:P₂O₅:K₂O ha⁻¹) and M2: 125% RDF, combined with nine seed priming and foliar nutrient management treatments. The treatments included unprimed control, seed priming with 0.5% FeSO₄ or ZnSO₄, and their integration with foliar application of 0.2% FeSO₄ or 0.5% ZnSO₄ at 45 and 60 days after sowing. The economic analysis considered cost of cultivation, gross return, net return and benefit cost (B:C) ratio. The results demonstrated clear differences among nutrient management treatments, with integrated seed priming and foliar micronutrient application generally improving economic returns over the untreated control. Under 100% RDF, COC ranged from ₹44,223 to ₹50,073 ha⁻¹, while GR increased from ₹111,716.7 to ₹138,116.7 ha⁻¹ and NR from ₹66,994 to ₹88,044 ha⁻¹. Under 125% RDF, COC ranged from ₹45,736 to ₹51,586 ha⁻¹, whereas GR increased from ₹113,483.3 to ₹152,737.7 ha⁻¹ and NR from ₹67,747 to ₹101,152 ha⁻¹. The highest economic performance was recorded with M2S9, involving 125% RDF combined with seed priming using 0.5% ZnSO₄ and foliar application of 0.5% ZnSO₄ at 45 and 60 days after sowing. This treatment recorded the highest gross return (₹152,737.7 ha⁻¹), net return (₹101,152 ha⁻¹) and B:C ratio (2.96), despite having a comparatively higher cost of cultivation (₹51,586 ha⁻¹). The lowest economic performance was observed under M1S1, where 100% RDF was combined with no seed priming, recording a gross return of ₹111,716.7 ha⁻¹ and net return of ₹67,494 ha⁻¹. Overall, the findings indicate that balanced fertilizer management integrated with Zn-based seed priming and foliar nutrition can substantially improve the profitability of maize production. The superior economic returns under M2S9 suggest that integrating enhanced fertilizer supply with targeted micronutrient application provides a promising strategy for improving resource-use efficiency, crop productivity and farm profitability. The study highlights the importance of integrated nutrient management for achieving economically sustainable maize production while simultaneously supporting micronutrient enrichment of the crop.