Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality (Jan 2020)

Zinc nutrition application augments morpho-physiological attributes, productivity and grain zinc bioavailability of Paddy Rice

  • Qamar uz Zaman,
  • Zubair Aslam,
  • Muhammad Rashid,
  • Ambreen Aslam,
  • Rana Nadeem Abbas,
  • Asif Iqbal,
  • Muhammad Shahbaz Naeem,
  • Umair Riaz,
  • Safdar Bashir,
  • Zulfiqar Ahmad Saqib,
  • Muhammad Yaseen,
  • Nusrat Ehsan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5073/JABFQ.2020.093.002
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 93

Abstract

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Zinc (Zn) deficiency is the most important micronutrient disorders affecting plants and human health. Present study evaluated the potential of various Zn application methods in improving the performance of selected rice genotypes and Zn bioavailability in grains. Pre-selected Zn application methods through pot experiments were validated in the field. Harvested grains were fed to albino rats for Zn bioavailability. Results revealed that soil + foliar application of Zn was effective in improving the seedling growth of rice genotypes by modulating the agronomic, water related and biochemical attributes. The rats gained more body weight fed with rice genotype Accession-164 (high Zn accumulator) compared with the minimum for Super Basmati (low Zn accumulator) feed. In crux, soil application of Zn at 15 kg ha-1 followed by foliar application of 0.25% ZnSO4.7H2O solution at tillering and heading stages produced the highest grain yield (26.25%, 29.11%) with maximum bioavailable Zn (21.02%, 22.50%) during both years, respectively, in the grains for combating malnutrition in the tested rats.