Micronutrient fortification in a crop to enhance growth, yield and quality of aromatic rice

A field trial comprising of 3 levels of Zn-0, 5 and 10 kg ha-1, 3 levels of Fe-0, 15 and 30 kg ha-1 and 3 levels of Mn-0, 5 and 10 kg ha-1 was carried out during the two consecutive rainy seasons of 2008 and 2009 to study their effect on growth, yield and quality of aromatic rice cv. HUBR 2-1. The experiment was conducted in 33 partial confounding with three replications. All the micronutrients (Zn, Fe and Mn) were applied as basal and rest half doses were applied through foliar application at different intervals of crop growth. Application of 10 kg Zn ha-1 recorded significantly higher growth attributes i.e. plant height, tiller hill-1, dry weight and leaf area index (LAI) as compared to preceding doses. Significant increase in growth attributes was also observed with the application of 15 kg Fe ha-1, but it was statistically similar to 30 kg Fe ha-1. Similarly, incorporation of 5 kg Mn ha-1 significantly increased the growth attributes of rice but further increase in Mn levels decreased the response. Application of 10 kg Zn ha-1 (51.33 q ha-1) and 15 kg Fe ha-1 (51.09 q ha-1) resulted in significantly higher grain yield over control. Whereas, application of 5 kg Mn ha-1 produced the highest grain yield (49.91 q ha-1), but was at par with 10 kg Mn ha-1 (49.18 q ha-1).In respect of quality traits, application of 10 kg Zn ha-1 and 15 kg Fe ha-1 recorded maximum values of hulling, milling, head rice recovery, kernel length and breadth, which remained significantly superior to rest of the doses. Hence, to achieve the maximum productivity, profitability, as well as, quality of aromatic rice cv. HUBR 2-1 was grown with application of 10 kg Zn and 15 kg Fe along with 5 kg Mn ha-1.