Biofortification of mungbean (Vigna radiata L. (Wilczek)) with boron, zinc and iron alters its grain yield and nutrition

Abstract

Abstract Mungbean [Vigna radiata L. (Wilczek)] is considered as an extremely nutritious crop possessing a high level of micronutrients, but their low bioavailability in the crop leads to micronutrient malnutrition in humans. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the potential of nutrients viz. boron (B), zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) biofortification on productivity, nutrient concentration and uptake as well as the economics of mungbean cultivation. In the experiment, the various combinations of RDF with ZnSO4.7H2O (0.5%), FeSO4.7H2O (0.5%) and borax (0.1%) were applied to mungbean variety ML 2056. The combined foliar application of Zn, Fe and B was highly efficient in increasing the yield of grain as well as straw in mungbean exhibiting maximum values i.e. 944 kg ha−1 and 6133 kg ha−1, respectively. Similar results for B, Zn and Fe concentration in grain (27.3 mg kg−1, 35.7 mg kg−1 and 187.1 mg kg−1, respectively) and straw (21.1 mg kg−1, 18.6 mg kg−1 and 376.1 mg kg−1, respectively) of mungbean were observed. Also, uptake of Zn and Fe by grain (31.3 g ha−1 and 164.4 g ha−1, respectively), as well as straw (113.7 g ha−1 and 2295.0 g ha−1, respectively), was maximum for the above treatment. Whereas, the B uptake was found to enhance significantly through the combined application of B, Zn and Fe, where the values 24.0 g ha−1 and 128.7 g ha−1 corresponded to grain and straw, respectively. Thus, combined use of ZnSO4.7H2O (0.5%) + FeSO4.7H2O (0.5%) and borax (0.1%) significantly improved the yield outcomes, the concentration of B, Zn and Fe, uptake and economic returns of mungbean cultivation to alleviate the B, Zn and Fe deficiency.