COMPARISON OF FOLIAR AND SOIL APPLICATIONS FOR CORRECTION OF IRON DEFICIENCY IN PEANUT (ARACHIS HYPOGAEA L.)

Pakistan has extensive iron (Fe) deficiency in its calcareous soils in Pothwar tract. The problem leads to Fe deficiency Chlorosis in peanut (Arachis hypogea L.) due to high pH and high bicarbonate levels. Foliar as well as soil applications of Fe-EDTA, FeSO4 and sequestrene were used in pots for amelioration of Fe deficiency in already screened genotypes BARI-2000 (Fe deficiency tolerant) and BARD-699 (Fe deficiency sensitive). Pod number of BARI-2000 increased upto 36% by foliar treatments of Fe-EDTA as compared to control. Soil applications of FeSO4 resulted 22% increase in pod number in BARI-2000. Pod number of BARD-699 was increased upto 62% and 52% as compared to control when Fe-EDTA and sequestrene were applied as foliar application. Strong correlation was found among photosynthetic rate and total Fe in BARI-2000. Similarly transpiration rate was positively correlated with total Fe and transpiration rate in BARI-2000. In BARD-699 strong correlation was found among photosynthetic rate and morpho-physiological parameters. Similarly transpiration rate was positively correlated with different parameters. Our results suggested that foliar applications were more effective in combating Fe deficiency in peanut.