International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN:2319-7692(Print), ISSN:2319-7706(Online) is a multidisciplinary peer-reviewed journal with reputable academics and experts as members of its Editorial Board. The Current Microbiology aims to publish all the latest and outstanding research articles. Review and letters in all areas of major importance to techniques of microbiology and applied research with publishes high quality of review and research articles on novel aspects of Microbiology including Environmental, Food, Agricultural, Medical, Pharmaceutical, Veterinary, Soil, Water and Biodeterioration.

Articles | Plant, Soil and Environment | Agricultural Journals

Zinc deficient soils cause low crop production leading to malnutrition in humans and livestock. Two years field experiments were conducted on cowpea crop with six ZnSO₄·H₂O (33%) treatments viz. no Zn, soil application of 16 kg ZnSO₄·H₂O ha⁻¹ (S_Zn), one foliar spray of 0.3% ZnSO₄·H₂O at early bloom (EB) stage (F_1Zn), two foliar sprays of 0.3% ZnSO₄·H₂O at EB and full bloom (FB) stages (F_2Zn) and combination of soil application + foliar sprays of ZnSO₄.H₂O (S_Zn+F_1Zn and S_Zn+F_2Zn) were tested. The results showed that soil application of 16 kg ha⁻¹ of ZnSO₄·H₂O followed by two foliar sprays of 0.3% ZnSO₄·H₂O at EB (R1) and FB (R2) stages recorded maximum increase in grain yield (43.7%) and grain Zn content (22.7%) over control. However, in straw, a three-fold increase in Zn content was recorded. Foliar applications of 0.3% ZnSO₄·H₂O at EB and EB+FB stages recorded a significant increase in grain (8.2% and 11.4%) and straw Zn content (63.0% and 104.0%) over control. In conclusion, combination of soil (S_Zn) + foliar (F_2Zn) Zn application method was most remunerative with maximum production and monetary efficiencies (15 kg ha⁻¹ day⁻¹ and $7.5 ha⁻¹ day⁻¹) and is an effective approach for grain and straw Zn biofortification in cowpea.