Effect of Biofortified and Non-Biofortified Varieties and Zinc Fertilization Strategies on Growth, Productivity and Profitability of Rice

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted in the rainy (Kharif, June to October) seasons of 2019 and 2020 at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India with the objective to appraise the effect of biofortified and non-biofortified varieties and zinc fertilization strategies on the growth, productivity and profitability of rice. The biofortified variety DRR Dhan 45 recorded a higher value of dry matter accumulation, leaf area index, and crop growth rate, and the non-biofortified variety Pusa 44 recorded higher effective tillers, panicle weight, filled grain weight per panicle, number of filled grains and total grains per panicle, fertility percentage and grain yield (5.2 t ha^-1), though the performance of both varieties was statistically similar. But, the higher straw yield was recorded with the non-biofortified variety, Pusa Basmati 1121 (10.8 t ha^-1). Pusa Basmati 1509 recorded higher cost of cultivation, gross returns, net returns and B:C. Among zinc fertilization strategies, soil application of 2.5 kg Zn ha^-1 along with the foliar application of 0.5% ZnSO₄.7H₂O at maximum tillering and anthesis stages recorded higher growth parameters, yield, and yield attributes and better economics. On average, the soil+foliar Zn application increased grain yield by 14% and straw yield by 10.5%, and gross returns and net returns by 15.6% and 26.7%, respectively, than the control. Cultivation of rice varieties, Pusa 44 or DRR Dhan 45, along with soil+foliar Zn fertilization enhanced growth and productivity, while the aromatic variety, Pusa Basmati 1509 enhanced the profitability.