Effect of zinc application on yield, nutrients uptake and biochemical properties of rice under Inceptisols

A field experiment was conducted in a randomized block design at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Karjat during kharif 2016-2019 to study the effect of zinc on soil fertility, yield, nutrients uptake and biochemical properties of rice under Inceptisols. Results revealed that the grain (50.65 q ha-1) and straw (56.74 q ha-1) yield of rice was significantly improved with application of zinc in the form of zinc sulphate @ 15 kg ha-1 at the time of transplanting through soil application (T7) which was better than foliar spray and root dipping methods. Significantly highest values of DTPA-extractable Zn (0.45 mg kg-1) and SO4-S (32.40 kg ha-1) were registered in the treatment T8. The zinc supplied plots led to significant enhancement in total N (93.38 kg ha-1), P (15.55 kg ha-1), K (96.80 kg ha-1) and S (35.54 kg ha-1) uptake in the treatment T7 and Zn (183.40 g ha-1) in the treatment T8. The treatment T7 showed higher hulling (74.28%), milling (63.32%), gel consistency (81mm), alkali spreading value (4.0) as well as the head rice recovery (57.80%), protein (8.96%) and amylose (24.40%) content which was acceptable.Overall, Zn-fertilization assumes great significance in improving soil properties, productivity and quality of rice.