Quality of Summer Fodder Maize (Zea mays L.) Influenced by Agronomic Fortification with Zinc and Iron

Abstract

Deficiencies of zinc and iron in soils not only diminish the productivity of forage crops but also lead to insufficient dietary intake of these micronutrients in livestock. The present study aimed to assess the quality of summer fodder maize (*Zea mays* L.) as influenced by agronomic biofortification with zinc and iron. A field experiment was carried out during the summer season of 2019 on medium black calcareous soil in Junagadh. The study included ten treatment combinations involving soil and foliar applications of 0.2% ZnSO₄ and 1.0% FeSO₄, along with the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF), arranged in a randomized block design with three replications. The results revealed that nitrogen (1.63%), phosphorus (0.26%), and potassium (1.45%) and among micro-nutrients Mn, Cu, Zn and Fe of 54.83, 31.53, 27.50 and 143.77 ppm, respectively were recorded maximum when fodder maize was fertilized with the application of 100% RDF combined with foliar sprays of 0.2% ZnSO₄ and 1.0% FeSO₄ at 30 and 45 days after sowing (DAS), except for crude fiber content. Among all the treatments, the application of 100:60:40 kg NPK ha⁻¹ along with foliar application of 0.2% ZnSO₄ and 1.0% FeSO₄ at 30 and 45 DAS (T7) was the most effective in improving green and dry fodder yield and fodder quality of maize, whereas the control treatment (T1) recorded the lowest quality parameters. Therefore, application of 100:60:40 kg NPK ha⁻¹ along with foliar spraying of 0.2% ZnSO₄ and 1.0% FeSO₄ are found most effective for improving fodder quality to support better animal health and productivity.