Effect of foliar application of zinc on growth and yield of garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) in Assam condition

A field experiment was conducted during the months of November-January 2018-19, at the Experimental Farm, Department of Horticulture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat to study the effect of foliar application of zinc on growth and yield of garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) with five different treatments and four replications. Among the various treatments, the highest plant height (59.15cm) and number of branches (11.60) were recorded with T4 (0.75% Zn), followed by T3 (0.50% Zn). T3 also recorded the highest fresh weight (39.30g) and dry weight (9.08g) of the plant a harvest as well as highest root weight per plant (0.73g). In case of yield attributing characters, the highest weight of the pod (6.63g), number of seeds per pod (7.59), weight of the seeds per pod (3.65g), shelling percentage (55.60%) and pod yield (56.31g/plant; 14.74t/ha) were recorded in case of T3 (0.50% Zn). However, the highest number of pods per plant (15.80) was recorded with T2 (0.25% Zn), which was very closely followed by T3 (0.50% Zn). In many instances the trend decreases after a particular point, due to negative effect of excess micronutrient application than the optimum amount needed, which affects the plant in various ways. In a broader view, it can be suggested from the present study, that the one with 0.50% zinc application (T3) turns out to be the optimum treatment, beneficial towards improving the growth and yield attributing characters.