Biofortification of basmati rice with zinc under different nitrogen levels
2015
Zulfiqar , K.
Deficiency of Zn in food items is one of the most serious world health problems, affecting approximately 1/3rd of global population. Rice is an important cereal crop of Pakistan and there is need to obtain higher yield as well as higher zinc concentration in grains to overcome malnutrition. For this purpose a field trial was conducted at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad during Kharif season 2014, to study the effect of zinc under different nitrogen rates on biofortification of basmati rice. The nursery was transplanted on July 10, 2014 in the field. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement having three replications. Four zinc levels (0, 2, 3 and 4 kg per ha) were randomized in main plots while four nitrogen levels (0, 100, 150 and 200 kg per ha) in sub plots. Net size of plot was 6 m x 1.35 m having six rows in each plot. The nitrogen (N) and zinc (Zn) applications showed significant effects on paddy yield, panicle bearing tillers, kernel weight, number of kernels, biological yield and harvest index. Significant interactive effects of nitrogen and zinc were also observed on paddy yield, yield contributed attributes and quality traits except protein contents. Soil applied with fertilizer of 200 kg N per ha, along with 3 kg Zn per ha, foliarly applied recorded the highest kernel yield. This combined application (N and Zn) also improved kernel quality such as produced higher normal kernel % and less number of abortive kernels, opaque kernels, chalky kernels and reduced sterile kernel %. Further, foliar Zn spray offered a practical and useful means for an effective biofortification of rice grain with Zn.
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