Abstract
Field and pot experiments were conducted to study the
growth and uptake responses to Zn, Cu and Fe application in
various rice cultivars to check their suitability to be grown in
the deficient soils. In the 34 rice varieties grown without micronutrient applications in the field, leaf concentration of Zn
ranged from 11.0 - 29.5, Cu from 3.5 - 9.5, Fe from 75 - 210
and Mn from 45 - 165 ppm showing a coefficient of variation
as 21.8, 21.5, 27.9 and 37.9, respectively among the varieties.
Both concentration and uptake of Zn, Cu and Fe in the
shoots of 5 rice varieties grown in pots significantly varied in
the presence and absence of their applications. Without Zn,
Cu and Fe addition, Zn in shoots ranged from 13.3 - 14.9, Cu
from 8.5 - 9.3 and Fe from 127 -198 ppm showing a difference
in concentration among cultivars as 12.0, 9.4 and 55.8%
which/increased on an average to 44.1, 30.7 and 22.5%, respectively with 5 ppm of their applications. Similarly, the difference in dry matter yield of cultivars grown with or without
Zn, Cu and Fe was significant also showing differential nutrient requirements of cultivars.
Moreover, the differential response or susceptibility to
Zn, Cu and Fe deficiency did not seem to be associated with
. any particular plant group nor the yield depresion with their
deficiencies could be significantly correlated with Zn, Cu, Fe
and P concentration in the plants of various rice cultivars .
