EVALUATION OF NPZn (10:50:1.5 Zn) COMPLEX FERTILIZER IN RICE WHEAT CROPPING SYSTEM

A field experiment was conducted during 2004–05 and 2005–06 on rice (HKR-47) and wheat (WH-711) grown in the same field. Zinc was applied @ 1.8 and 5.0 kg ha−1 through ZnSO4 and NPZn in kharif and rabi. Grain and straw yields of rice and wheat were maximum in 3.2 kg Zn through ZnSO4 + 1.8 kg Zn through NPZn. Both crops responded significantly in terms of yield attributes, number of tillers/hill and panicle weight. Phosphorus and zinc uptake in rice and wheat were found highest and significantly higher over control when Zn was applied through NPZn complex fertilizer and zinc sulphate combined. The effect of all the treatments was found non significant on N and K content but significant ontheir uptake. Agronomic efficiency of zinc for total biomass and grain yield of rice and wheat was found maximum where 5 kg Zn ha−1 was applied through both 1.8 kg through NPZn and 3.2 kg through ZnSO4. Post harvest build-up of available N, P, K and Zn was also observed.