Abstract:
A pot culture experiment was carried out using the Vellayani Kayal soil
(Tropaquept) in a randomized block design to study the effect of zinc in combination with lime on the absorption of nutrients by rice. The soil used in the
study had a pH of 4.3 and it contained 0.11% N, 0.02% P20S, 0.36% K20r
0.10% CaO, 0.13% MgO and 4.2 ppm available Zn. The levels of zinc used
were 0, 10, 20 and 40 Kg ZnS04 7H20/ha and those of lime were 0, 250, 500
and 1009 Kg CaC03/ha. NPK fertilizers (70+35+35 kg/ha) were also applied
as per the package of practices. The application of lime did not result in appreciable
increase in the pH of the soil under field conditions. The nitrogen content
of grain was increased significantly by zinc, but it had no effect on the nitrogen
content of straw. Application of lime reduced the nitrogen content of the grain.
Zinc tended to decrease and lime tended to increase the P206 content of both
grain and straw. But this effect was significant only in the case of grain. The
K.,0, CaO and MgO contents of both grain and straw were practically unaffected
by the application of zinc and lime. However there was a trend for CaO and
MgO to increase in the plant material with increased applications of lime. When
the total quantities of nutrients removed per pot was considered there was significant
variation only in the case of nitrogen and phosphorus whereas in the case
of the other nutrients the treatment effects, were non-significant.
