Importance of MicroNutrients in sorghum

The important micronutrients are Iron, Zinc, Boron, Molybdenum, Manganese, Copper, Chlorine and Cobalt.
These nutrients are equally essential for sorghum plants for proper growth, development and disease resistance.
Continued use of only common fertilizers, which do not supply these nutrients, is leading
to their deficiencies resulting in reduced sorghum yields. Testing the soil will help in identifying the need for the application of these plant nutrients. Application of organic manures like well decomposed farm yard manure (FYM) and compost, green manuring and green-leaf manuring practices provide most of these plant nutrients.
Among the micronutrients, Zinc and Iron are the most commonly deficient in sorghum growing areas.

Zinc Deficiency

Zinc deficiency can be corrected by applying 15 to 25 kg/ha of Zinc sulfate to the soil before the final ploughing. Zinc application to soils last for several years. So, zinc need to be applied once in 3 to 5 years.

 

 

               

Iron Deficiency

Foliar application of 0.5-1.0% ferrous sulfate solution corrects iron deficiency if noticed in a standing crop.Soil application of 25 kg per ha of ferrous sulfate at the final ploughing is recommended in soils low in available iron. Soil applications of iron may be long-lasting than foliar application.