Productivity, quality, energetics and marginal rate of return of wheat (Triticum spp.) varieties as influenced by zinc and boron application in vertisols of Central India

The field experiment was conducted for three consecutive years during rabi seasons from 2009-12 at Indore (Madhya Pradesh) to find out the effect of zinc and boron levels on the productivity, quality and economic viability of wheat. Two wheat varieties viz., HI 1544 (Triticum aestivum L.) and HI 8498 (Triticum turgidum ssp. Durum) were tested under three levels each of zinc (0, 5.0 and 10 kg ha-1) and boron (0, 1.0 and 2.0 kg ha-1). Pooled over data of 3 years revealed that the yield performance of bread wheat variety HI 1544 (grain yield 5.69 t ha-1) was significantly higher over durum wheat variety HI 8498. In case of Zn and B application, grain yields recorded with 5.0 kg Zn ha-1 (5.63 t ha-1) and 1.0 kg B ha-1 (5.63 t ha-1) were significantly higher to the tune of 6.63 and 5.23 percent, respectively over control and thereafter differences were non-significant. While crude protein (12.9%) and yellow pigment (4.45 ppm) contents observed with durum wheat variety HI 8498 were significantly higher over bread wheat variety HI 1544. However, SDS (sedimentation) value (37.9 ml) recorded with bread wheat variety HI 1544 was significantly higher over durum wheat variety HI 8498. None of the nutrients viz., Zn and B had significant effect on any of quality traits. Zinc (24.14 and 13.57 mg kg-1) and boron (7.40 and 11.83 mg kg-1) contents recorded in grain and straw of wheat variety HI 8498 were significantly higher over HI 1544. But, total uptakes of Zn and B were more in HI 1544 than HI 8498 due to higher wheat tonnage. Due to synergistic effect of zinc and boron to each other, their contents and uptakes were gradually increased with each increase in nutrients level. Energy relationships values were followed the trend of wheat yields. Whereas, analysis of marginal rate of return showed that application of Zn @ 5.0 kg/ha and B @ 1.0 kg ha-1 were found safe doses for farmers’ recommendations. On the basis of 3 years study, it may be inferred that bread wheat variety HI 1544 under application of Zn @ 5.0 kg ha-1and B @ 1.0 kg ha-1 holds promise to provide higher wheat productivity in vertisols of Central India.