Growth and yield response of Basmati-385 rice to ZnSO4 application

The present study was conducted to study the effect of time and various levels of ZnSO4 application on yield and yield components of fine rice variety Basmati-385. The experiment was conducted at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad during Kharif 2000. Six levels of ZnSO4 including control (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 kg ha-1) were applied before or after puddling. The experiment was laid out in RCBD with split plot arrangement giving more importance to various levels of ZnSO4. There were four replications with a net plot size of 2m x 3m. Nursery was sown on June 4th, 2000 and transplanted on July 5th, 2000. The row to row and plant to plant distance was kept 25 cm. The crop was harvested on November 4th, 2000. Data was recorded on yield and yield components. Stan procedures were adopted to record the data. Data obtained was statistically analyzed using Fisher's analysis of variance technique and LSD at 0.05 was applied to compare the treatment means. The salient features of the results obtained are summarized below. Time of application had no effect. It gave similar results either applied before or after puddling. The soil used in these studies was seemed to be deficient in Zn and the added Zn reports were positive. Number of tillers m-2, panicle bearing tillers m, spike length, number of spikelets per panicle were affected significantly by the application of various levels of ZnSO4. ZnSO4 applied @10 kg or 20 kg ha-1 did not differ from each other significantly. 1000 grain weight and harvest index was not affected significantly by various ZnSO4 levels and time of application. Straw and paddy yields were affected significantly by various ZnSO4 levels. T2 (10 kg ZnSO4 ha-1) and T3 (20 kg ZnSO4 ha -1) gave the highest yield and were at par with cacti other This was concluded from the results that the application of ZnSO4 at the rate of 10 kg ha-1 after or before paddling was the most economical dose for obtaining higher yield. However, further investigations are warranted to be carried out in this important research area.