Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Modified Lignosulphonate-Chelated Zinc Fertilizer on Sweet Corn Yield

Abstract

Zinc is an essential micronutrient for maize, enhancing nutrient uptake, enzyme function, and crop resilience. Zinc deficiencies in agricultural soils can significantly limit maize growth and yield. This study was, conducted from January to April 2024 at Agri Search India Pvt. Ltd. in Nashik, Maharashtra to assess the impact of various zinc formulations, ZnO, Zn-EDTA, ZnSO?•7H?O, Modified Lignosulphonate Chelated Fertilizer (MLCF), and Borrechel-Zn applied as foliar sprays on the sweet corn variety Sweet Bite NS 8601, with a control treatment for comparison. MLCF, formulated using lignosulphonate derived from wood pulping by-products, acts as a natural chelator and slow-release carrier, enhancing zinc availability while reducing environmental impact. Key findings revealed that MLCF significantly outperformed other treatments in improving plant growth and cob yield, achieving the highest fresh cob weight (264.7 g), dry cob weight (90.5 g), cob girth (15.6 cm), grains per row (36.6), and dry weight of ten cob grains (60.5 g). As a natural and renewable product, MLCF minimizes chemical leaching and supports soil health, presenting a sustainable alternative to synthetic chelates. These results indicate that MLCF is an effective and eco-friendly option for zinc supplementation, promoting enhanced crop performance and contributing to sustainable agriculture.

Introduction

Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient critical for plant growth, enzyme activity, protein synthesis, and grain development. Maize is particularly zinc-demanding. According to 2023–2024 Soil Health Card data, over 52% of soils in Maharashtra are zinc-deficient, limiting crop productivity. To address this, a field study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of various zinc fertilizer formulations through foliar application in sweet corn.

Study Design

• Location: Pimpalnare, Dindori, Nashik, Maharashtra (Jan–Apr 2024)

• Soil: Sandy loam, pH 7.0, zinc-deficient (0.80 ppm vs. desired 1–1.5 ppm)

• Crop: Sweet corn variety "Sweet Bite NS 8601"

• Treatments (T1–T6): Six zinc formulations applied as foliar sprays at specific intervals:

  • T1: Zinc Oxide (ZnO)

  • T2: Zinc EDTA

  • T3: Zinc Sulfate Heptahydrate (ZnSO?·7H?O)

  • T4: Modified Lignosulfonate Chelated Fertilizer (Zinc Ligno-MLCF)

  • T5: Borrechel-Zn

  • T6: Control (no zinc)

Key Findings

1. Zinc Ligno-MLCF (T4) showed the best overall performance, with:

• Highest fresh cob weight: 264.7g

• Highest dry cob weight: 90.5g

• Widest cob girth: 15.6 cm

• Most grains per row: 36.6

• Heaviest grains: 11.5g (100 grains) and 605g (10 cob grains)

2. Other zinc treatments (T1–T3) also improved growth over the control (T6), with:

• ZnO (T1) and ZnSO?·7H?O (T3) enhancing cob and grain weights effectively.

• Zn-EDTA (T2) had moderate results, likely influenced by environmental factors affecting nutrient release.

3. Control (T6) showed the lowest performance across all parameters, confirming zinc deficiency's negative impact on growth and yield.

Implications

• Zinc Ligno-MLCF is recommended for optimal sweet corn productivity due to its superior bioavailability and efficiency.

• Foliar zinc application is an effective solution for addressing zinc deficiency in maize.

• Regular soil testing and use of bioavailable zinc sources are essential for sustainable nutrient management.

• Economic benefits include improved yields and grain quality, particularly crucial in zinc-deficient regions.

Conclusion

The findings from this study emphasize the critical role of zinc supplementation in enhancing Sweet Corn productivity, grain quality, and overall plant health. Among the zinc formulations tested, Zinc Ligno-MLCF (T4) demonstrated the highest efficacy improving fresh and dry cob weight, grain weight, and cob girth. This superior performance can be attributed to its enhanced bioavailability, which facilitates better nutrient uptake and supports vital physiological processes such as enzyme activation, chlorophyll synthesis, and protein synthesis. Other treatments, including ZnO (T1), ZnSO?•7H?O (T3), and Zn-EDTA (T2), also exhibited positive impacts on maize growth parameters, underscoring the importance of zinc in plant nutrition. While these forms were effective, their performance was slightly lower than that of Zinc Ligno-MLCF, highlighting the need for selecting appropriate formulations to maximize crop yield and quality. The further studies can be taken to determine doses of MLCF.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Kalpana Sachin Malode, Yogesh Kumar, Satish Bhonde, Pradip Kothawade, Shravni Malode, Ila Ruchi, Roma Pandey. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.