Zero tillage and agronomic biofortification enhanced fodder productivity, micronutrient enrichment and profitability of baby corn (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

Conservation tillage and agronomic biofortification offer promising approaches to improve fodder productivity, nutritional quality, and profitability in dual-purpose crops. A field experiment was conducted during 2021-22 and 2022-23 at Karnal, India a sub-tropical zone, to evaluate the effects of tillage practices and zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) biofortification on the productivity, micronutrient enrichment, and economics of baby corn (Zea mays L.). The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with two tillage practices - conventional tillage and zero tillage - as main plots and seven agronomic biofortification treatments involving seed priming and foliar application of ZnSO4 and FeSO4 as sub-plot treatments. Results revealed that zero tillage significantly improved leaf area index, leaf-to-stem ratio, total fodder yield (40.2 t ha-¹), and micronutrient uptake, while reducing the cost of cultivation compared with conventional tillage. Among the biofortification treatments, combined Zn seed priming with Zn and Fe foliar spray [Zn(P)+Zn & Fe(S)] recorded the highest relative chlorophy ll content, baby corn yield (1,871 kg ha-¹), total fodder yield (40.4 t ha-¹), Fe and Zn uptake, net returns (Rs 184,503 ha-¹), and B:C ratio (2.52), remaining statistically at par with Fe(P)+Fe and Zn(S). Fe seed priming coupled with Fe foliar spray [Fe(P)+Fe(S)] produced the highest Fe concentration, whereas Zn seed priming coupled with Zn foliar spray [Zn(P)+Zn(S)] recorded the highest Zn concentration in biomass. The results demonstrate that integrating zero tillage with combined Zn and Fe agronomic biofortification enhances fodder yield, micronutrient enrichment, and farm profitability.