Response of Basmati Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) to Iron and Boron Biofortification Under Varying Seedling Density

Abstract

The saying “Rice is life” is the most adoptable for country like India as rice crop has been playing a vital role to our national food security. Today we have sufficient amount of food in terms of quantity but there is a need to be worked on quality. The present study entitled “Response of Basmati Rice (Oryza sativa L.) to Iron and Boron Biofortification under Varying Seedling Density” was conducted during the kharif season 2019 and 2020 at Crop Research Centre (CRC) Main Campus of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel university of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut, (U.P.). The soil was sandy loam in texture, low in organic carbon and available nitrogen but medium in available phosphorus and available potassium and moderately alkaline with pH 8.68. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design (SPD), comprising 15 treatment combinations and replicated thrice. The main-plot treatment consisted of 3 planting density viz., 1, 2 and 3 seedlings/hill and subplot treatment consisted of five foliar applications of iron and boron, namely Control, Fe @ 0.1% and B @ 0.04% at maximum tillering stage, Fe @ 0.1% and B @ 0.04% at panicle initiation stage, Fe @ 0.1% at maximum tillering stage and B @ 0.04% at panicle initiation stage and Fe @ 0.1% and B @ 0.04% at maximum tillering and panicle initiation stage. The maximum values of growth characters (Number of tillers/m2, dry matter accumulation, leaf area index) were recorded in 3 seedlings/hill, while the tallest plants were found in 2 seedlings/hill during both the years. However, the maximum values of yield attributes and quality parameters of rice were noticed in 1 seedling/hill during both the years. Highest Fe and B content in grains was found in 1 seedling/hill and/or the crop fortified with iron and boron @ 0.1% and 0.04% applied at MT and PI stages, respectively. Maximum straw and biological yield were registered in 3 seedlings/hill. Similarly, maximum grain yield (50.2 and 51.1 q/ha) and gross returns (116839 and 122848 ₹/ha) were also noticed under 3 seedlings/hill, whereas the maximum net returns (61999 and 66797 ₹/ha) and benefit cost ratio (2.16 and 2.23) was recorded under 2 seedlings/hill during 2019 and 2020, respectively. Crop fortified with Fe @ 0.1% and B @ 0.04% at maximum tillering and panicle initiation stage had improved almost all the growth parameters, yield attributes, quality parameters, besides maintaining the soil nutrient status. Moreover, the micronutrients applied at both the stages as compared to control fetched ₹ 8471 and 8823 more net returns during 2019 and 2020, respectively. Therefore, it may be recommended that the 2 seedlings/hill is economically beneficial than others. Fe @ 0.1% and B @ 0.04% applied at maximum tillering and panicle initiation stage proved to be most suitable for higher yield and maximum benefit cost ratio.