Enhancing nutrient content and uptake of Zn and Fe in aromatic rice through organic and inorganic sources of zinc and iron

Abstract

Zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) are important trace elements for people’s health around the globe. A lot of people, especially children and women, are suffering from malnutrition caused by Zn and Fe deficiency. The deficiency are more pronounced in developing countries due to low income, which makes it difficult to afford meat or sea food that are rich in Zn and Fe. Biofortification of Zn and Fe in rice is the most economical and convenient way to supplement these micronutrients in the diet of poor people. A field experiment was carried out for “Enhancing nutrient content and uptake of Zn and Fe in aromatic rice through organic and inorganic sources of zinc and iron” during kharif 2019 at the Research Farm, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur. The experiment was laid out with Randomized Complete Block design with ten treatments. Highest Zn content (35.74 mg kg-1) and uptake (0.13 kg ha-1) in grain as well as highest Zn content in straw (37.93 mg kg-1) were recorded in treatment T4 (RDF + 2 FS of 0.5% ZnSO4 at 25 DAT & 1 week after flowering) while highest Zn uptake (0.21 kg ha-1) in straw was recorded in treatment T7 (RDF + SA of ZnSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1 + SA of FeSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1). Fe content in grain (74.26 mg kg-1) and straw (193.52 mg kg-1) were found highest in T6 (RDF + 2 FS 0.5% FeSO4 at 25 DAT & 1 week after flowering) and T8 (RDF + 2 FS of 0.5% ZnSO4 & 2 FS of 0.5% FeSO4 each at 25 DAT & 1 week after flowering) respectively while Fe uptake in grain (0.29 kg ha-1) and straw (1.13 kg ha-1) were found highest in treatment T7 (RDF + SA of ZnSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1 + SA of FeSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1).