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The experiment was conducted at Betelvine Research Centre, Islampur (BAU, Sabour) under ICAR-AICRP on MAP and Betelvine project in order to determine optimum dose of zinc application for enhancing leaf production and economic return of Magahi Pan in Agro-Climate Zone IIIB of Bihar where Zinc was deficient in the soil. Pooled mean of three consecutive years (2013, 2014 and 2015) data showed that the soil application of zinc @ 30 kg ZnSO4 ha-1 had significant influence on growth attributes, number of marketable leaves vine-1 and economic return of Magahi pan as compared to their lower doses of zinc sulfate including control treatment. The increase in marketable leaves with 30 kg/ha ZnSo4 was 4.06 %, 10.04 %, 15.66 %, 20.62 % and 26.51% more than that of 25, 20, 15, 10 kg/ha ZnSo4 and control, respectively. The highest gross monetary return (Rs. 2651850 ha-1), net monetary return (Rs. 826260 ha-1) and benefit: cost ratio (1.45) was found with the application of 30 kg ZnSO4 ha -1 followed by application of 25 kg ZnSO4 ha-1. However, the lowest benefit: cost ratio was recorded under control (1.17).

Key words: Zinc fertilization, Magahi pan, Betel leaf production and Economic return.