Yield and uptake of micronutrients by rice as influenced by duration of variety and nitrogen fertilization

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted for two years at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to study the effects of duration of variety and nitrogen fertilization on biomass accumulation at 45 days after transplanting (DAT) and grain and straw yield and Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu concentration and uptake in rice. The short duration variety Pusa Jaldi Dhan-1 (PJD-1) and the medium duration variety Pusa Basmati-1 (PB-1) did not differ significantly in biomass accumulation at 45 DAT but PB-1 produced significantly more grain and straw yield. In general, concentration of Zn, Fe and Mn in rice at 45 DAT and in grain and straw was higher in short duration variety PJD-1 than in PB-1. Cu concentration in rice at 45 DAT and in grain was higher in PB-1 than in PJD-1, however, in straw it was higher in PJD-1 than in PB-1. Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu uptake was significantly more in medium duration variety PB-1 than in short duration variety PJD-1, mainly due to higher grain and straw yield of the former. Nitrogen fertilization increased the concentration and uptake of Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu by rice.