Abstract
Under rainfed conditions, farmers rarely use micro-nutrients for crop production, due to which soils become deficient especially in zinc (Zn) and boron (B). Secondly, farmers apply nutrients through soil application but scarcity/less availability of moisture make the nutrients unavailable for crop plants. Under such circumstances, foliar application of Zn and B may play a key role for better crop growth and yield. Therefore this field study was conducted to investigate the role of Zn and B application alone and in combination through seed, soil and foliar application methods on growth, yield and net returns of maize grown under rainfed conditions. Results showed that combined application of Zn and B on foliage improved relative water contents, SPAD chlorophyll values, leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), and grain yield due to substantial expansion in entire yield related traits. Combined foliar application of Zn and B harvested 12% and 45% more yield compared with seed priming and control treatments, respectively. The foliar application of Zn and B in combination counteracted the low rainfall effect by producing higher relative water contents that helped in improving SPAD-chlorophyll values, LAI and CGR. Higher net returns and benefit: cost ratio was also obtained by foliar application of Zn and B in combination. In conclusion, combined foliar application of B and Zn improved maize yield due to significant expansion in allometric and yield related traits and thus improved net returns of maize grown under rainfed conditions of Pothwar plateu in Pakistan.