Significance of Zinc Fortified Briquettes on Soil Properties, Zinc Concentration, Uptake and Economics of Rice

Abstract

ABSTRACT Briquette formulation has the potential to enhance nutrient use efficiency due to deep placement of all essential nutrients maybe more efficient and farmers can be more benefited from this compared to broadcast method. Experiments were conducted to study the significance of Zn (ZnSO4·7H2O)-fortified UB-DAP, UB-Suphala and Konkan Annapurna Briquette (KAB) briquettes each @ 5, 10 and 15 kg ha−1 on soil properties, zinc concentration and their uptake by rice during Kharif 2016–2019 Cv. KJT-3 at RARS, Karjat under Inceptisols. The results showed that maximum rice yield (54.167 q ha−1) was recorded with the application of UB-KAB fortified with ZnSO4·7H2O @ 10 kg ha−1. Significantly higher SO4 2--S (25.841 mg kg−1) and available Zn (0.442 mg kg−1) were observed in UB-KAB fortified with 10 kg ha−1 ZnSO4·7H2O compared to other treatments. The data showed reduced chances of leaching losses and toxic effect to the plant enhanced the economics of rice production as well as harmonized release of nutrients and requirement by the crops. Hence, applying urea fortified briquette in rice field should be sensitized and adopted by rice farmers, since the application of 65 kg N ha−1 of urea briquette improved soil properties and rice production over 100 kg N ha−1 through broadcasting.