Effect of Different Zinc Fertilization Strategies on Growth, Yield, and Profitability of Transplanted Rice

Abstract

The research was conducted to determine how rice growth and productivity would be impacted using graded amounts of zinc fertilizer in rice variety ADT-43 at Annamalai University’s Experimental Farm, Tamil Nadu, India. This investigation on the effect of different sources of zinc on growth and yield of transplanted rice was conducted during kuruvai season (June – September 2023). Different quantities of zinc fertilizers were employed in the ten treatments. Three independent studies of the treatments were carried out and the field trial was designed employing randomised block design (RBD). According to the research outcome, among the different treatments, 100% RDF + Soil application of Zn-EDTA @ 5kg ha-1 + Foliar spray of nano Zn @ 0.2% at active tillering and panicle initiation resulted in higher morphological characters, including plant height (124.11cm), leaf area index (4.84), dry mater production (13012 kg/ha), number of tillers/hill (33.30) and yield characteristics, including number of panciles m-2, panicle length, number of filled grains panicle-1 and test weight, grain yield (6693 kg/ha) and straw yield (7865 kg/ha) of rice. Several indicators pointed to reduced productivity and insufficient growth and development in the control treatment scenario. The study revealed that application of 100% RDF + Soil application of Zn-EDTA @ 5kg ha-1 + Foliar spray of nano Zn @ 0.2% at active tillering and panicle initiation could be considered a better for achieving the growth and yield attributes of ADT-43 under transplanted condition.