Evaluation of Agronomic Biofortification on Yield, Quality and Nutrient Acquisition of Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] in the Mid-hills of Nagaland

Abstract

Background: Sulfur (S) and zinc (Zn) are vital nutrients for oilseed crops like soybean, significantly influencing their growth, yield and quality. Sulfur is essential for protein synthesis, enzyme function and chlorophyll formation, which are crucial for the overall health and productivity of the plant. Zinc, on the other hand, plays a critical role in enzyme activation, hormone regulation and protein synthesis. It enhances disease resistance and stress tolerance in soybeans. Methods: During the kharif seasons of 2017 and 2018, a field experiment was carried out at Nagaland University to evaluate the influence of different sulfur and zinc levels on soybean. The treatments consisted of three sulfur levels (0, 20 and 40 kg ha-1) and five zinc levels (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 kg ha-1) arranged in a factorial randomized block design. Result: The findings showed that the use of 20 kg S ha-1 along with 20 kg Zn ha-1 greatly enhanced parameters for growth, yield attributes, seed quality and nutrient uptake. These findings suggest that balanced application of sulfur and zinc is an effective strategy for enhancing soybean productivity under rainfed conditions.