Iron Fortification of Chickpea through foliar application reduces Iron deficiency and improves grain yield and quality

Author(s) : Kiran Munawar1, Nabeel Ahmad Ikram1, Shahid Iqbal2, Tanveer ul Haq3, Khuram Mubeen *1, Abdul Ghaffar1, Rao M. Ikram1, Mudassir Aziz1, Waseem Hassan3, Syeda Refat Sultana4, Mudassir Ayub1, M. Shahid5, Amna Saleem6

Digital object identifier:

https://doi.org/10.52587/JAF070103

Abstract:

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is widely grown as a major food legume for its rich nutritional profile and serves as a primary source of protein in developing nations. To overcome hidden hunger linked with Fe deficiency, a field experiment on agronomic biofortification of chickpea through foliar application was conducted at the research farm of MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan, during the Rabi season, 2020-21. The experiment was laid out under Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. FeSO4 was used as the Fe source for foliar application; control, water spray, and 0.5% and 1% FeSO4 were applied. The foliar application of Fe at 1% FeSO4 resulted in a significant 21% increase in yield and quality attributes, including a 17% increase in grain Fe content, compared with the control. In conclusion, Fe foliar feeding of chickpea served as an effective, economical, and easy approach to enrich chickpea with Fe to address hidden hunger linked with Fe deficiency.