Effect of zinc application methods on apparent utilization efficiency of zinc and phosphorus fertilizers under basmati rice–wheat rotation

Abstract

To examine the effect of zinc (Zn) application method on the utilization of phosphorus (P) from applied P fertilizer, a field experiment was conducted on basmati rice–wheat rotation with combinations of Zn levels (0, soil application of 2.5 kg Zn ha – 1 and two foliar applications of 2.0 kg Zn ha –1) and P levels (0, soil application of 8.7, 17.5 and 26.2 kg P ha –1). The highest pooled grain yields of basmati rice and wheat were obtained with soil application of 17.5 kg P ha –1 and foliar applications of 2 kg Zn ha –1. Foliar applications of Zn increased the P concentration in grain and straw and the total P uptake by basmati rice and the P concentration in flag leaves of wheat significantly, while soil or foliar application of Zn increased the total P uptake of wheat. Phosphorus application increased the Zn concentration in flag leaves, grain and straw of basmati rice and in grain and straw of wheat and the total Zn uptake of both crops. Phosphorus levels up to 17.5 kg P ha –1 increased utilization efficiency of soil or foliar application of Zn. Zinc application increased the P utilization efficiency of basmati rice and wheat up to 17.5 kg P ha –1 level; foliar Zn application was more effective in a wheat crop than a rice crop.