Rice growth improvement, bio-fortification, and mitigation of macronutrient requirements through foliar application of zinc and iron- glycine chelate and zinc sulfate

Abstract

Foliar application of Zinc (Zn) and Iron (Fe) fertilizers is known to be an effective solution to enhance rice grain yield and bio-fortification. The objectives of the current field experiment were to evaluate the effects of the foliar application of 0.5, 1, and 1.5 kg ha⁻¹ of Zn and Fe glycine amino acid chelates and ZnSO₄ on rice grain yield, protein, Zn, and Fe content of head rice (Hashemi cultivar) under both in the recommended and ½ of the recommended dose of NPK. The highest increase in the grain yield was recorded at 0.5 kgha⁻¹ Fe-glycine amino acid chelate by about 29.2%. The maximum increase in protein and Zn content of head rice were recorded at 1.5 kg ha⁻¹ of glycine amino acid-Zn chelate by about 10.5 and 22.3%, respectively. The most effective treatment to enhance the Fe content of head rice was the foliar application of 1.5 kg ha⁻¹ of glycine amino acid-Fe chelate by about 32.6%. Interestingly, the foliar application of 1 kg ha⁻¹ Zn-glycine amino acid chelate plus 1 kg ha⁻¹ Fe-glycine amino acid chelate at the plots that received ½ of recommended NPK increased the grain yield, and protein, Zn and Fe content of head rice compared to control by about 7%, 18.5, 7.5, and 26.2, respectively. Therefore, regardless of rates and types, foliar application of Zn and/or Fe could enhance both rice yield, protein, Zn, and Fe content of head rice both in plots that received recommended and ½ of the recommended dose of NPK.

Keywords:

• bio-fortification
• glycine
• head rice
• iron
• protein
• zinc

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research project was financially supported by the Pakgostar Company in Iran exclusive agent of the Phytobiotics Futterzusatzstoffe GmbH Company- Germany.