AGRONOMIC ZINC BIO-FORTIFICATION IN RICE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
MUHAMMAD FRAZ ALI
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
MUHAMMAD ADNAN *
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan
MISHAAL KHAN
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Crop and Food Science, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan
MUHAMMAD ASIF
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan
SHAISTA PERVEEN
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
ALI AMMAR
Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
AMJED ALI
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan
MUHAMMAD SHAKEEL HANIF
Fodder Research Institute Sargodha, Pakistan
UMMAR ALI
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
FAZAL UR REHMAN
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, 40100, Pakistan
HAROON ILAHI
Department of Agriculture (Soil Sciences), The University of Swabi, KPK, Pakistan
ALI RAZA
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Malnutrition is major problem for the increasing global mortality and micronutrients such as zinc (Zn) deficiency is the most critical problem, affecting almost one third of world population causing mental problems, failure of immune system and high death rates. In most countries, Zn deficiency occurs due to low dietary Zn consumption. For improving Zn concentration in rice grains, a research experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of bio fortification of rice with Zn under different productions systems at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture Faisalabad. Experiment was designed under randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement having three replications. The experiment was comprised of two factors viz production systems direct seeded rice (DSR) and puddled transplanted rice and Zn application methods (No application, hydro-priming, Zn priming, Zn coating, soil application and Zn foliar application). During the crop growth period, yield and quality parameters were recorded to check the response of Zn in rice. Results confirmed that zinc bio-fortification have showed maximum plant height (103.57 cm), biological yield (11.23 t ha-1), grain yield (4.83 t ha-1) with zinc seed priming in puddled transplanted rice system. 1000 grain weight (19.41 g) was maximum with foliar zinc spray in puddled transplanted rice system while straw yield (6.64 t ha-1) was maximum in hydro priming of direct seeded rice. For the quality parameters maximum kernel (34.47 mg kg-1) zinc contents were found in foliar application of puddled transplanted rice and maximum straw (31.40 mg kg-1) were recorded in soil application of direct seeded rice. Results suggested that zinc seed priming with puddled transplanted rice is best and suitable for best quality rice production in very economical way.
Keywords: Malnutrition, micronutrients, deficiency, zinc, rice