Maize Yield and Iron Uptake as Impacted by Iron Citrate Treatment

Chelated iron formulations prepared using synthetic chelating agents are widely used and they are harmful to the environment. The present study was aimed at developing and evaluating new chelated iron citrate formulation. New chelated iron citrate formulation with 10.9% Fe was developed and evaluated in comparison with Ferrous sulphate and commercial Ferric citrate during 2018-19 in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. A field experiment was conducted with TNAU maize hybrid CO6. Nine treatments replicated thrice in Randomized Block Design. The results revealed that foliar spray of 1% Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Fe citrate thrice on 30,40 and 50 days after sowing registered significantly highest grain yield (7065 kg ha-1) and stover yield (12583 kg ha-1). This was on par with foliar spray of 1% commercial Ferric citrate (T9). At late vegetative stage, significantly highest Fe content (268 mg kg-1) and Fe uptake (2.13 kg ha-1) were observed in foliar spray of 1% TNAU Fe citrate (T8). Significantly highest grain and stover Fe content (192 and 219 mg kg-1 respectively), grain and stover Fe uptake (1.28 and 2.58 kg ha-1 respectively) were observed with foliar spray of 1 % TNAU Fe citrate (T8).