Effect of Zinc and Iron Application in Calcareous Soil on Zinc and Iron Nutrition of Rice

In pot culture experiment with three levels of zinc as zinc sulphate and three of iron applied through ferrous sulphate and ferric citrate, it was observed that application of Zn or/and Fe progressively enhanced the dry matter yield of rice (variety IR 20) at tillering, panicle initiation and maturity stages. The magnitude of response was more to Zn than to Fe. The yield was further increased when 5 ppm Zn and 10 ppm Fe as ferric citrate were applied in combination. The effect of 10 ppm Fe as ferric citrate was better than 20 ppm Fe through ferrous sulphate on dry matter production. Incorporation of Zn and Fe reduced the concentration of each other in the various plant parts but the depressing effect of Zn on Fe content was more pronounced than that of Fe on Zn. Ferrous sulphate caused a greater depression in Zn content than ferric citrate.