Interaction effect of nitrogen, phosphorus, and zinc fertilization on growth, yield, and nutrient contents of aromatic rice varieties

Abstract

Studies on nutrient interactions in aromatic rice are needed for proper understanding of impact of imbalanced use of nutrients in the era of multi and micro-nutrient deficiencies. A pot experiment was conducted during the rainy/wet season (June–October) of 2013 at New Delhi, to study the interaction effects of two levels each of nitrogen (N) (0 and 120 kg ha⁻¹), phosphorus (P; 0 and 25.8 kg ha⁻¹), and zinc (Zn; 0 and 5 kg ha⁻¹) in two aromatic rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties, viz. Pusa Rice Hybrid 10 and Pusa Basmati 1121. Application of N, P, and Zn resulted in increase of dry matter (0.91, 0.32, and 0.24 g plant⁻¹, respectively) 60 days after sowing (DAS) and grain yield of rice (3.68, 1.67, and 1.17 g plant⁻¹). The increase in yield of rice owing to N application was relatively higher by 0.98, 0.22, and 1.05 g plant⁻¹, respectively, when either P or Zn or both were applied with N than alone application of N, indicating synergetic effect of P and Zn application with N. The higher concentration and uptake of K in grain (0.25% vs 0.10%) and straw (1.32% vs 0.94%) were observed in the treatment received N than no N, though K was applied uniformly in all the treatments. It indicates positive interaction of N and K. The higher uptake of P in grain and straw was observed when P was applied with N and Zn (3.34 and 2.15 mg plant⁻¹), or with N (3.26 and 2.11 mg plant⁻¹) signifying positive effect of N on P uptake in rice.

Keywords:

• aromatic rice
• grain yield
• nitrogen
• nutrient interaction
• zinc

Acknowledgments

The authors duly acknowledge to ICAR – Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India, for providing financial support. Our sincere thanks are also due to Division of Agronomy, ICAR – Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India for providing facilities required for this pot experiment.