**5. Foliar sprays' nutritional impact on ginger production**

A foliar application is when liquid fertiliser is sprayed on top of leaves rather than the soil to feed plants. Through their stomata and epidermis, the absorption happens. Although total absorption may be just as great through the epidermis, transport is typically faster through the stomata. Most crops experience periods of elevated nutrient need during regular seasonal development. Typically, this increase involves a wide range of macro, meso, and micro factors. The following important growth phases of ginger's life cycle require an immediate supply of nutrients:


During these critical growth stages, the rapid nutrient supply to the plants is essential, where this cannot be achieved rapidly through soil application, where foliar spray can.

There are reports of increased ginger growth and yield when ZnSO4 (0.5%) spray is used [51]. Foliar fertilisers with moderate release rates can therefore effectively offset the decreased Zn bioavailability and mobility [52]. In comparison to soil application of higher levels of fertilisers, foliar application of lower levels of fertilisers, particularly urea, results in higher yields for several crops. Additionally, it aids in raising the produce's quality. In 2021, ref. [53] reported on the usage of growth substances like NAA to enhance growth and development as well as yield. The performance of enhanced varieties like Rio-de Janeiro and Baruwa Sagar with single and mixed application of urea and NAA was evaluated in a field trial under the aforementioned conditions. The yield per plant demonstrated the variety, urea, and NAA primary effects, as well as the interaction impact of urea and NAA. Baruwa Sagar's diversity was vastly superior. The combination of NAA 400 PPM and urea 2% produced the highest rhizome production per plant. Higher yield was produced using urea at 2% and NAA at 400 PPM. However, best response was reported in case of urea 2%. Spraying urea (2.0%) and planofix (200 ppm) was proven to increase the output of dry ginger. The seed rhizomes were exposed to 250 ppm ethephon for 15 minutes, and this resulted in a noticeable increase in shoot and root growth at the early stage. When applied as a foliar spray every 15 days beginning at 70 DAP, ethrel (200 ppm) increases the quantity of tillers and leaves. We can use CCC (50–125 ppm) to prevent shoot growth while it's being stored. According to one assay, ginger plants have very little gibberellin, and their rhizomes contain cytokinins and auxins that have an

impact on the start and growth of rhizomes. Auxin and cytokinin levels are raised by CCC spray. Shadap [54] based on growth, yield and net returns and benefit: cost ratio point of view, reported that spraying with Zn 0.5%. followed by B 0.3% is best to get maximum yield. Clumps supplied with 100 per cent RDF (NPK) as soil application along with BA spray at 75 ppm recorded maximum growth and yield in transplanted ginger at Mudigere, Karnataka [55]. Supplemental foliar nourishment is a booster to attain better yield by correcting soil limitations (51).
