Effects of foliar zinc sulfate and silicon application on mung bean performance under flowering–pod set drought stress
Keywords:
Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.), Reproductive-stage drought stress, Foliar application, Zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄), Silicon (magnesium silicate)Abstract
This field study (summer season 2025) evaluated whether foliar zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄, 0.5%), silicon (magnesium silicate, 30 ppm), or their combined application could mitigate drought stress imposed during the flowering–pod set stage in mung bean by improving growth, leaf water status, and yield. Two irrigation regimes were applied: full irrigation (I1) and a drought window during flowering–pod set (I2). Foliar treatments included water spray (T0), ZnSO₄ (T1), silicon (T2), and ZnSO₄+silicon (T3). Under drought stress (I2), the combined spray (T3) produced the highest pod number (20.91 ± 0.58) compared with the control (11.78 ± 0.24), and increased seed yield from 1.00 ± 0.06 to 2.00 ± 0.02 t ha⁻¹ (T0 vs T3). Likewise, seed yield per plant increased from 3.81 ± 0.03 to 5.61 ± 0.18 g plant⁻¹ under I2 (T0 vs T3). Foliar applications also improved leaf relative water content (RWC) under drought, increasing from 54.93 ± 1.65 in the control to 81.11 ± 0.80 with T3 (I2). Overall, foliar application of ZnSO₄+silicon was the most effective strategy for alleviating flowering–pod set drought effects on mung bean performance, particularly seed yield and leaf water status.
