Zinc-deficiency symptoms in lowland rice as induced by modified-urea materials applied at different rates of nitrogen in calcareous soil

Summary

Studies revealed that Zn-deficiency symptoms were induced markedly by the levels of nitrogen and its source in rainfed lowland rice grown on calcareous soil. Visual Zn-deficiency symptoms recorded 3 weeks after transplanting showed that increased supply of nitrogen at puddling resulted in significant increase in the extent of deficiency symptoms of this nutrient element. Zn-deficiency symptoms got aggravated with Mussorrie Rock Phos-coated urea (MRPCU) followed by sulphur-coated urea (SCU). Zn-deficiency symptoms induced by urea supergranules (USG) and prilled urea (PU) supplying two-thirds of nitrogen as basal were found to be of moderate level. No symptoms of Zn-deficiency were noted with no-nitrogen control.