TY - JOUR AU - Kunlanit, Benjapon AU - Siritrakulsak, Tanapon AU - Vityakon, Patma PY - 2022/08/30 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Zinc promotes growth, yield and economic return of cassava variety Kasetsart 50 production JF - Asia-Pacific Journal of Science and Technology JA - Asia Pac J Sci Technol VL - 27 IS - 05 SE - ICoFAB 2021 Articles DO - 10.14456/apst.2022.67 UR - https://so01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/APST/article/view/261613 SP - APST-27-05-02 (9 pages) AB - <p>Low yield and economic return of cassava, which is extensively cultivated in low fertility sandy soils in Northeast Thailand, are partly due to micronutrients, notably zinc (Zn), deficiency in these soils. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of Zn on growth, yield, quality and economic return of the cassava variety Kasetsart 50. Eight fertilizer treatments including 1) no fertilizer, 2) chemical fertilizer formula 15-15-15 at the rate of 313 kg/ha (CF), 3), 4) and 5) soaking stake in 2, 4, and 6%, of ZnSO<sub>4</sub>.7H<sub>2</sub>O, respectively + CF, 6), 7) and 8) soil incorporation of ZnSO<sub>4</sub>.7H<sub>2</sub>O at the rate of 6.25, 12.50, and 18.75 kg/ha, respectively + CF were assigned in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Cassava variety Kasetsart 50 was planted in a loamy sand soil of a farmer’s field in Phochai district, Roi-Et province in Northeast Thailand. Soil incorporation of ZnSO<sub>4</sub>.7H<sub>2</sub>O at the rate of 18.75 kg/ha plus chemical fertilizer resulted in the highest plant height (196.7 cm), root fresh yield (45.8 t/ha), starch content (28.6%), Zn use efficiency and economic return over the fertilizer cost (1,850.77 USD/ha). The results suggested that application of ZnSO<sub>4</sub>.7H<sub>2</sub>O at the rate of 18.75 kg/ha together with chemical fertilizer was effective in overcoming Zn deficiency in the loamy sand soils, widely distributed in Northeast Thailand, and also provided the highest yield, quality and economic return for cassava variety Kasetsart 50 production.</p> ER -