Influence of different zinc management options on productivity, profitability and protein yield of basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.) in inceptisol of Western Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Crop Research Centre of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture &Technology, Meerut (UP) India to study the effect of sources and methods of zinc application on growth, yield and zinc use efficiency in Basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.). The experiment was carried out during kharif season of 2017 with ten treatments viz. Control (T1), Seedling treatment with 1% ZnO solution (5 min.) (T2), 5 kg Zn/ha through ZnSO4 (21% Zn) as soil application (T3), 0.5 kg Zn/ha through Chelated zinc (Zn EDTA) as soil application (T4), 7.5 kg Zn/ha through ZnSO4 (21% Zn) as soil application (T5), 1 kg Zn/ha through Chelated zinc (Zn EDTA) as soil application (T6), Foliar spray of ZnSO4 with lime (0.1% Zn solution (T7), Foliar spray of ZnSO4 with urea (0.1% Zn solution (T8), Foliar spray of ZnSO4 with lime (0.15% Zn solution (T9) and Foliar spray of ZnSO4 with urea (0.15% Zn solution (T10). Experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with three replications. Grain, straw and biological yield of rice crop was influenced by different sources and methods of zinc application and were recorded significantly highest with the application of 7.5 kg Zn/ha through ZnSO4 (21% Zn) as soil application (T5). The significantly lowest yield was recorded in control treatment. Highest protein content and protein yield was also associated with the same treatment, the next in the order best treatments were T3 (5 kg Zn/ha through ZnSO4 (21% Zn) as soil application) and T6 (1 kg Zn/ha through Chelated zinc (Zn EDTA) as soil application). The maximum net return and benefit: cost ratio was recorded in T5. The lowest profitability from rice was associated with control (no zinc) treatment.