Effect of method and time of zinc application on growth and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Ghulam Mustafa1 ,Ehsanullah1,Nadeem Akbar1,Saeed Ahmad Qaisrani1,Asif Iqbal1, Haroon Zaman Khan1 ,khawar Jabran1,Ashfaq Ahmad Chattha1 , Richard Trethowan2,Tariq Chattha2 and Babar Manzoor Atta2

1Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan 2 Plant breeding institute,Universityof Sydney, Australia

* Corresponding Author: saeedkamalpk@gmail.com

Abstract :

This study was conducted at agronomic research area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, during kharif 2008 to evaluate the effect of different methods and timing of zinc application on growth and yield of rice. Experiment was comprised of eight treatments viz., control, rice nursery root dipping in 0.5 % Zn solution, ZnSO4 application at the rate of 25 kg ha-1 as basal dose, foliar application of 0.5 % Zn solution at 15, 30, 45, 60 and 75 days after transplanting. Super Basmati, a promising variety of rice was used as a test crop. Remarkable effects were noted on yield components such as number of productive tillers per hill, kernel per panicle, 1000-kernel weight, biological yield, kernel yield and harvest index. Maximum productive tillers per m2 (249.80) were noted with basal application at the rate 25 kg ha-1 21 % ZnSO4 and minimum (220.28) were recorded with foliar application at 60 DAT @ 0.5 % Zn solution. Zinc application methods and timing had significantly pronounced effect on paddy yield. Maximum paddy yield (5.21 t ha-1) was achieved in treatment Zn2 (Basal application at the rate of 25 kg ha-1 21 % ZnSO4) and minimum paddy yield (4.17 t ha-1) was noted in Zn7 (foliar application at 75 DAT @ 0.5% Zn solution). Zinc application increases the crop growth rate of rice. Key words: Zinc, Basmiti, Orya Stiva L.