Soil fertility and zinc application influences yield and zinc-iron nutrition in rice (Oryza sativa) under system of rice intensification and conventional methods Pal Biplab1, Saha Sushanta2, Saha Bholanath3, Saha Susmit4, Pati Sajal5, Hazra G.C.6,* Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, 741 235 1Senior Lecturer (Soil Science), Agricultural Training Centre, Ramkrishna Mission Ashram, Narendrapur, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, 700 103 2Assistant Professor (Agril. Chemistry and Soil Science), Directorate of Research, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani, West Bengal, 741 235 3Assistant Professor, (Soil Science and Agril. Chemistry), Dr. Kalam Agricultural College, Bihar Agricultural University, Kishanganj, Bihar, 855 107 4Assistant Professor (Agril. Chemistry and Soil Science), College of Agriculture, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Burdwan, West Bengal, 713 101 5Assistant Director of Agriculture, Govt. of West Bengal, Sandeshkhali-II Block, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, 743 446 6Professor and Ex-Head (Agril. Chemistry and Soil Science), Faculty of Agriculture, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, West Bengal, 741 252 *Corresponding author's Email: gchazra@rediffmail.com
Online published on 25 October, 2019. Abstract A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2013–14 and 2014–15 in an Inceptisols of the Indo-gangetic plains of West Bengal, to evaluate the effect of soil-fertility levels and Zn application on yield, yield-attributing characters and Zn-Fe enrichment in the popularly grown rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars under system of rice intensification (SRI) and conventional method. The grain yield was found slightly higher (1.80% than SRI) under conventional system, while the straw yield was found higher under SRI (2.09% than the conventional system). Zinc application had profound influence on yield, yield-attributing characters and Zn content in different plant parts under both the systems. The increase in grain yield owing to zinc fertilization was more under conventional system (24.2, 25.4 and 26.9% at low, medium and high fertility levels respectively) than SRI. Zinc enrichment to the tune of 16.1% was observed owing to zinc fertilization but it significantly decreased 5.02% Fe content in the rice grain, indicating a phenomenon of possible Zn-Fe antagonism. Therefore, the conventional system was found superior to SRI so far yield, yield-attributing characters and Zn and Fe content in rice are concerned. Top Keywords Conventional method, Fe uptake, Grain yield, Rice, Soil fertility, SRI, Zn application, Zn uptake. Top |