Study on Biofortification of Basmati Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) Varieties Through Efficient Zinc Management

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during kharif season of 2018 and 2019 at Crop Research Centre (main campus), Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut (U.P.), India, on Biofortification of Basmati Rice Varieties through Efficient Zinc Management. The soil of experimental field was sandy loam in texture, alkaline in reaction, low in available N (180 kg/ha) and O.C. (0.30%), medium in available P (13.8 kg/ha), K (126.7 kg/ha) with available DTPA extractable Zn of 0.70 mg/kg. Three basmati rice varieties viz. V1-Pusa Basmati-1121, V2-Pusa Basmati-6 and V3-Pusa Basmati-1509 were taken in the main plots and 5 zinc management practices viz. Z1-control-water spray, Z2-soil application of ZnSO4 @ 15 kg/ha, Z3-foliar spray of ZnSO4 @ 0.5% at tillering and panicle initiation stage, Z4-seedling dipping in 2% ZnSO4 + foliar spray @ 0.5% at tillering and panicle initiation stage and Z5-seedling dipping in 2% ZnSO4 + foliar spray @ 0.5% at panicle initiation stage were applied in sub plots and replicated thrice in split plot design. The total amount of rainfall received during both the years of experimentation was 786.1 and 587.6 mm, respectively, while the maximum and minimum temperature ranged from 29.4 to 42.6 ˚C (November and June) and 28.1 to 41.3 ˚C (November and July), while the minimum one from 11.1 to 28.1 ˚C (November and July) and 12.0 to 26.4 ˚C (November and June) during first and second year, respectively. Growth parameters, yield attributes, yield, nutrient content particularly of grains zinc content and most of the quality parameters improved significantly with Pusa Basmati-1121 variety nourished with seedling dipping in 2% ZnSO4 + foliar spray @ 0.5% at tillering and panicle initiation stage. The next in order was Pusa Basmati-1509 and soil application of ZnSO4 @ 15 kg/ha during both the years. This combination of variety and zinc management resulted in maximum net return with highest B:C ratio. The maximum straw and biological yield was registered in Pusa Basmati-1121 during both the years. Similarly, maximum grain yield (5.46 and 5.38 t/ha), gross return (₹ 113677 and 115546/ha), net return (₹ 61552 and 61607/ha) and B:C ratio (2.18 and 2.14) was recorded in Pusa Basmati-1121 during first and second year, respectively. Crop nourished with seedling dipping in 2% ZnSO4 + foliar spray @ 0.5% at tillering and panicle initiation stage had improved almost all the growth parameters, yield attributes, quality parameters besides maintaining the soil nutrient status. Moreover, zinc applied through seedling dipping + spray at two stages as compared to control fetched ₹ 17212 and 18674/ha more net return during 2018 and 2019, respectively. Therefore on the basis of two year experiment action, cultivation of Pusa Basmati-1121 along with zinc application as seedling dipping in 2% ZnSO4 + foliar spray @ 0.5% at tillering and panicle initiation may be recommended for maximum yield and benefit cost ratio.