Vol. 19 No. 3
Improved yield and grain zinc enrichment of rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties through ferti-fortification in southern coastal plains of Kerala
Author(s): N. KRISHNA, A. INNAZENT, J. S. BINDHU, A.V. MEERA AND D. JACOB
Abstract: Field experiment was conducted in farmer’s field during rainy (kharif) season 2020-21 at Southern Coastal Plains of Kerala, to study the enhancement in grain zinc (Zn) content and yield improvement through foliar Zn fertilization. Four medium duration rice varieties viz., Uma, Pournami, Gouri and DRR Dhan 45, planted in factorial randomised complete block design constituted the first factor treatments. The second factor comprised of four fertilization treatments applied foliar at maximum tillering and milk stages viz., an unfertilized control, and ZnSO4 @ 0.1, 0.5, and 1%. DRR Dhan 45 recorded significantly higher Zn content in rough rice, brown rice, white rice, rice bran, and cooked rice of 28.6, 33.7, 25.3, 97.7, and 16.6 mg kg-1, respectively. Foliar ZnSO4 @ 0.5% fertilization produced higher grain yield (4.62 t ha-1) that was comparable to ZnSO4 @ 1% and resulted in 12% yield increase over the unfertilized control. ZnSO4 @ 0.5% also resulted in greater Zn content in rough rice, brown rice, white rice, rice bran, and cooked rice of 22, 26, 19.5, 75.3, and 12.8 mg kg-1, respectively. Foliar ZnSO4 @ 0.5% ferti-fortification in rice was economical since it generated greater net income and benefit cost ratio.
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