Comparative Performance of Zinc Sources on Productivity of Rice (Oryza sativa) in Zinc Stressed Soils of Cauvery Delta Zone

Abstract

Rice (Oryza sativa) cultivation is a cornerstone of India's economy and food security, with the nation ranking second only to China in annual production. Despite considerable advancements in recent years, rice yields remain below their maximum potential. Enhancing rice productivity through precise and advanced mineral nutrition techniques offers a promising solution for overcoming nutrient deficiencies in soils and improving crop yields. Zinc, an essential micronutrient, plays a crucial role in enzyme activation, protein synthesis, and overall plant metabolism. However, zinc deficiency is a widespread issue in many agricultural soils, particularly affecting rice crops, leading to reduced growth and yield. Addressing this deficiency through the application of appropriate zinc formulations is vital for improving rice productivity in zinc-deficient soils. A pot experiment was carried out in department of soil science and agricultural chemistry, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamilnadu during kharif of 2023 and included four sources of zinc and four levels of zinc levels to study their comparative performances and improve the yield of rice.  Growth characters viz., plant height, number of tillers hill-1, leaf area index, chlorophyll content, dry matter production, yield characters viz., no of panicles pot-1, no. of grains panicle-1, panicle length and test weight and grain and straw yield were recorded. The results indicated that the application of zinc lysinate at 5 kg ha-1, either individually or in combination, produced the highest growth and yield parameters, with grain (43.01 g pot-1) and straw (58.87 g pot-1) yields surpassing those of other treatments, demonstrating its potential to improve rice productivity in zinc-deficient soils.