EFFECT OF FOLIAR APPLICATION OF POTASSIUM, BORON AND ZINC ON GROWTH AND ...

129 Pages·2016·16.73 MB·English

EFFECT OF FOLIAR APPLICATION OF
POTASSIUM, BORON AND ZINC ON
GROWTH AND YIELD OF
SOYBEAN (Glycine max (L.) Merrill)

BY

P. GOWTHAMI

B.Sc. (Ag.)

THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE
ACHARYA N.G. RANGA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE
(CROP PHYSIOLOGY)

CHAIRPERSON: Dr. G. RAMA RAO

DEPARTMENT OF CROP PHYSIOLOGY
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, BAPATLA
ACHARYA N.G. RANGA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
RAJENDRANAGAR, HYDERABAD – 500 030
2014
CERTIFICATE

Ms. P. GOWTHAMI has satisfactorily prosecuted the course of research

and that the thesis entitled “EFFECT OF FOLIAR APPLICATION OF
POTASSIUM, BORON AND ZINC ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF
SOYBEAN (Glycine max (L.) Merrill)” submitted is the result of original
research work and is of sufficiently high standard to warrant its presentation to
the examination. I also certify that the thesis or part there of has not been
previously submitted by her for a degree of any university.

Date:
(G. RAMA RAO)
Place: Bapatla Major Advisor
Associate Professor
Department of Crop Physiology
S.V. Agricultural College
Tirupathi - 517 502
DECLARATION

I, P.GOWTHAMI, hereby declare that the thesis entitled “EFFECT OF
FOLIAR APPLICATION OF POTASSIUM, BORON AND ZINC ON
GROWTH AND YIELD OF SOYBEAN (Glycine max (L.) Merrill)”
submitted to the Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University for the degree of
Master of Science in Agriculture in the major field of Crop Physiology is the
result of original research work done by me. I also declare that no material
contained in the thesis has been published earlier in any manner.

Place: Bapatla (P.GOWTHAMI)
I. D. No. BAM-12-20
Date:
C O N T E N T S

Chapter No. Title Page No.

I INTRODUCTION

II REVIEW OF LITERATURE

III MATERIAL AND METHODS

IV RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

V SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

LITERATURE CITED
CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the thesis entitled “EFFECT OF FOLIAR
APPLICATION OF POTASSIUM, BORON AND ZINC ON GROWTH
AND YIELD OF SOYBEAN (Glycine max (L.) Merrill)” submitted in partial
fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in
Agriculture of the Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad
is a record of the bonafide research work carried out by
Ms. P. GOWTHAMI under my guidance and supervision. The subject of the
thesis has been approved by the Student’s Advisory Committee.

No part of the thesis has been submitted by the student for any other
degree or diploma. The published part has been fully acknowledged. All
assistance and help received during the course of investigations have been duly
acknowledged by the author of the thesis.

Thesis approved by the Student Advisory Committee

Chairman : Dr. G. RAMA RAO
Associate Professor
Department of Crop Physiology,
S.V. Agricultural College,
Tirupathi.

Member : Dr. K. L. NARASIMHA RAO
Professor & Head
Department of Crop Physiology,
Agricultural College.
Bapatla

Member : Dr. LAL AHAMED M
Assistant Professor
Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding
Agricultural College
Bapatla

Date of final viva-voce:

Acknowledgements

“GRATITUDE IS THE MOST EXQUISITE FORM OF MEMORY”

Accomplishment of this thesis is the result of benevolence of almighty, love of
my family members and blessings of my teachers.
At the outset, with all the respect and immense pleasure I take it as a privilege to
place on record my profound sense of gratitude and indebtedness to the chairman of my
advisory committee Dr. G. Rama Rao, Associate Professor, Department of Crop Physiology,
Agricultural College, Tirupathi for his learned counsel, unstinted attention, arduous and
meticulous guidance. His indefatigable patience, splendid and stimulating guidance and
consistent efforts during the thick and thin of my research work deserve high extolment.
I also feel privileged to offer my deep sense of gratitude and respect to
Dr. K. L. Narasimha Rao, Professor & Head, Department of Crop Physiology, Agricultural
College, Bapatla and member of my advisory committee for his worthy counsel, constructive
criticism and valuable suggestions during the course work , at the time of investigation and
going through the thesis analytically by offering constructive suggestions for improvement.
I accord my sincere thanks to Dr. Lal Ahamed M, Assistant Professor, Department of
Genetics and Plant Breeding, Agricultural college, Bapatla and member of my advisory
committee for his constant critical supervision, help and encouragement during the course of
investigation.
I owe my grateful acknowledgement to the faculty staff members Dr. Y. Ashoka Rani
Professor, Dr. K. Jayalalitha, Associate Professor, Department of Crop Physiology, for their
co-operation and encouragement extended to me during my study.
I owe respectable regards to Dr. P. Ravindra Babu, Professor, Department of Soil
Science & Agril. Chemistry, Agricultural College, Bapatla and B. Jayanthi, Teaching
Associate, Department of Biochemistry for their co-operation and encouragement extended to
me during my Research work. My sincere thanks to Dr. P.V.N Prasad, Farm manager,
Agricultural College Farm, Bapatla and special thanks to all other staff and workers for their
help and support provided during my research work.
Diction is not at all enough to express my feelings towards my beloved grand parents
Sri P. Chalamaiah and Smt. P. Kamalamma and Sri P. Subbaiah and Smt. P. Ananthamma
my lovable parents Sri P. Rama Chandra Rao and Smt. P. Sitha Lakshmi , my beloved uncle
Sri. P. Rama Murthy and my Aunt P. Padmavathi and P. Lalitha and my sisters
P. Srujana, P. Kiran Swathi who constantly inspired, educated, guided and moulded me into
the present position, without whom, I may not have grown to this position. Their boundless
affection, meticulous care, admonishing remarks, consistent support and inimitable love acted
as impetus on my fortitude during the whole course of my research.
My sincere thanks to my brother-in-law Sri. R. Bharath Kumar and my brother
Mr. P.Naveen Reddy for the support and encouragement provided by them.
Words fail in expressing my affection and gratitude towards my seniors
K. Geethanjali and R.Vijaya Santhi for their help and support in my work at all times.
My hearfelt thanks to my seniors Y.L.Prasanna, Punnia Viswan, Neeraja and
Bharghavi for their help and support extended during my course of study.
I feel immense pleasure and joy in expressing my heartfelt thanks and intrinsic
affection to my friends S.Harika, Ishrath Sulthana, B.Vishalakshi, K.Madhan mohan Reddy,
B.Karunakar Raju and A.Naga Raju. My heartfelt thanks to my Juniors Ch. Prashanthi,
Priyanka, Venky, Preethi and Hareesh Babu.
At this juncture, I wish to express my thanks to Jayamma, Bhaskar rao, Srinu,
Kondalu ,venkateswarulu and Koteswaramma for their help during my research work.
I am thankful to Librarian and other library staff for extending their cooperation.
I am thankful to Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad for giving
financial support in the form of stipend during the course of investigation.
I am thankful to Eswar Digitals and Computers for the neat alignment and execution of my
thesis.
Any omission in this brief acknowledgement doesn’t mean lack of gratitude.

Place: Bapatla
Date: (P.Gowthami…)
LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
Title
No. No.
3.1 Weekly meteorological data during the crop growth period
3.2 Soil characteristics of the experimental field
4.1 Effect of foliar application of potassium, boron and zinc at
30 and 60 DAS on plant height (cm) in soybean
4.2 Effect of foliar application of potassium, boron and zinc at
30 and 60 DAS on number of branches in soybean
4.3 Effect of foliar application of potassium, boron and zinc at
30 and 60 DAS on number of leaves in soybean
4.4 Effect of foliar application of potassium, boron and zinc at
30 and 60 DAS on leaf area (cm2) in soybean
4.5 Effect of foliar application of potassium, boron and zinc at
30 and 60 DAS on leaf drymatter (g plant-1)in soybean
4.6 Effect of foliar application of potassium, boron and zinc at
30 and 60 DAS on stem drymatter (g plan -1) in soybean
4.7 Effect of foliar application of potassium, boron and zinc at
30 and 60 DAS on root drymatter (g plant-1) in soybean
4.8 Effect of foliar application of potassium, boron and zinc at
30 and 60 DAS on pod drymatter (g plant -1) in soybean
4.9 Effect of foliar application of potassium, boron and zinc at
30 and 60 DAS on total drymatter (g plant -1) in soybean
4.10 Effect of foliar application of potassium, boron and zinc at
30 and 60 DAS on crop growth rate (g m-2day-1) in soybean
4.11 Effect of foliar application of potassium, boron and zinc at
30 and 60 DAS on relative growth rate (g g-1day-1) in
soybean
4.12 Effect of foliar application of potassium, boron and zinc at
30 and 60 DAS on net assimilation rate (mg cm-2day-1) in
soybean
4.13 Effect of foliar application of potassium, boron and zinc at
30 and 60 DAS on leaf area index in soybean
4.14 Effect of foliar application of potassium, boron and zinc at
30 and 60 DAS on specific leaf area (cm2 g-1) in soybean
4.15 Effect of foliar application of potassium, boron and zinc at
30 and 60 DAS on specific leaf weight (mg cm-2) in
soybean
4.16 Effect of foliar application of potassium, boron and zinc at
30 and 60 DAS on leaf area duration (cm2 d-1) in soybean
4.17 Effect of foliar application of potassium, boron and zinc at
30 and 60 DAS on leaf area ratio (cm2 gm-1) in soybean
4.18 Effect of foliar application of potassium, boron and zinc at
30 and 60 DAS on SPAD meter readings in leaves of
soybean
4.19 Effect of foliar application of potassium, boron and zinc at
30 and 60 DAS on total chlorophyll content (mg g-1) in
leaves of soybean
4.20 Effect of foliar application of potassium, boron and zinc at
30 and 60 DAS on protein (%) and oil content (%) of
soybean seeds
4.21 Effect of foliar application of potassium, boron and zinc at
30 and 60 DAS on yield and yield components of soybean