Abstract
Zinc (Zn) is an important micronutrient and is helpful for different metabolic processes of crop-plants, animals and human
beings. In Pakistan most of the calcareous and alkaline soils are deficient in plant available Zn. Zinc concentration in the
soils of rice tract in Pakistan is decreasing rapidly due to less addition of Zn in the soils and soil conditions in which rice is
grown. The cultivation of tolerant varieties on saline fields may also reduce salinity by the process of biological reclamation.
In this experiment 10 rice genotypes (Pak Basmati, Super Basmati, Basmati-198, Basmati-370, Basmati-385, Basmati-515,
Basmati-2000, KS-282, IR-6 and KSK-133) were investigated against zinc (Zn) and salinity for total dry matter production,
chlorophyll content, sodium (Na+
) , potassium (K+
) and zinc (Zn) concentrations. The treatments were: Control, Zn=15 ppm
(using ZnSO4), Zn=15 ppm (using Zn-EDTA), NaCl= 70 mM, Zn=15 ppm (using ZnSO4) + 70mM NaCl, Zn=15 ppm (using
Zn-EDTA) + 70mM NaCl. The highest biomass production, chlorophyll content, K+ concentration was observed in rice
genotype KSK-133 and reduction of these were observed in BAS-198. The application of Zn significantly (P<0.05) reduced
the Na+ concentration and improve the plant growth. By applying Zn from both sources i-e ZnSO4 and Zn-EDTA, highest Zn
concentration was observed in Basmati-2000 under both of the conditions saline and non-saline. On the basis of more
biomass production and Zn concentration, rice genotypes Basmati-2000 is considered as Zn-inefficient and IR-6 is
considered as Zn-efficient genotype.
