Soil application of zinc improves the growth, yield and grain zinc biofortification of mungbean

TLDR: It is recommended that Zn should be soil applied at 10 mg Zn kg-1 soil to harvest better grain yield and Zn-enriched grains of mungbean to overcome Zn malnutrition.

Abstract: The grain legumes are a vital component of the sustainable crop production systems as these are not only a good source of dietary proteins but also help to improve soil nutrients status through biological nitrogen fixation. Mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) is one of the leading grain legumes which is planted all across the globe. Zinc (Zn) is one of the most critical micronutrients required by crop plants, including mungbean, as well as for the human being. This study was carried out to optimize the Zn soil application for vigorous seedling growth, grain yield and grain biofortification of mungbean. Zinc was soil applied at 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10 mg Zn kg-1 soil. The results showed that soil application of Zn improved the seedling growth, morphological and yield parameters, grain yield and grain Zn concentration of mungbean. However, Zn soil application at 10 mg Zn kg-1 soil was significantly better for improving the seedling growth, morphological and yield parameters, grain yield and grain biofortification. It is recommended that Zn should be soil applied at 10 mg Zn kg-1 soil to harvest better grain yield and Zn-enriched grains of mungbean to overcome Zn malnutrition.