Evaluation of various zinc sources for rice grown on alkali soil

Abstract A field experiment was conducted on a Zn deficient alkali soil to compare the efficiency of soluble and sparingly water soluble Zn carriers at 0,11 and 22 kg Zn/ha. The growth of the rice crop was poor in no Zn plots. Zinc application markedly increased the yield and Zn uptake by rice. This resulted from a significant increase in Zn concentration in plants from deficient to sufficient levels. The rice grain yields in zinc sulphate treatments were significantly better than zinc oxide and zinc frits. The relative efficiency of Zn varied in the order; zinc sulphate>mixture of multi‐micronutrient cations>zinc oxide = Zn‐frits. The efficiency of zinc oxide and Zn‐frits at 22 kg Zn/ha was equal to that of 11 kg Zn/ha from zinc sulphate.