AGRONOMIC APPROACHES FOR ZINC BIOFORTIFICATION IN RICE: EVALUATING SOIL, SEED, AND FOLIAR METHODS
Main Article Content
Keywords
Abstract
Zinc (Zn) is a vital trace element that plays a crucial role in human health, particularly in enhancing immune function and protecting against infectious diseases. To combat zinc malnutrition, several strategies have been adopted globally, including dietary diversification, food fortification, supplementation, and biofortification. Among these, biofortification of crops, particularly rice, with zinc has emerged as the most effective and sustainable solution. Rice, being a staple food for millions in South Asia, is a key target for biofortification due to its low inherent zinc content and widespread consumption. By enriching rice with zinc, biofortification addresses both malnutrition and soil fertility issues, aligning with global efforts to achieve food security and improve public health outcomes. In this context, a field study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of various zinc application methods in rice cultivation. Zinc was applied through soil application, seed priming, and foliar spraying, with the aim of enhancing zinc content in rice grains while improving growth and yield. The study demonstrated that zinc (Zn) fortification through soil application, seed priming, and foliar spraying significantly enhanced rice growth, yield, and grain zinc concentration. Soil application of ZnSO₄ at 15 kg ha⁻¹ proved highly effective in improving key growth parameters, such as leaf area index (LAI), leaf area duration (LAD), crop growth rate (CGR), and net assimilation rate (NAR). It also enhanced agronomic traits, including increased plant height, a higher number of total tillers, and greater fertile tillers, resulting in substantial yield improvements, with paddy yields reaching 3.61 t ha⁻¹ in 2015 and 3.95 t ha⁻¹ in 2016. Seed priming with 1.5% ZnSO₄ promoted early heading and maturity, improved early growth, and strengthened seedling vigor. Foliar spraying of 1.5% ZnSO₄ efficiently corrected zinc deficiencies during critical growth stages by supplying zinc directly to the leaves, which improved leaf health and photosynthesis, further supporting higher yields. Additionally, zinc fortification across all methods significantly increased zinc concentration in rice grains while reducing panicle sterility and improving grain quality. These results underscore the effectiveness of zinc fortification in enhancing rice growth, yield, and nutritional value, making it a sustainable strategy for addressing zinc deficiency in rice-based cropping systems.
References
2. Adhikary, S., Biswas, B., Chakraborty, D., Timsina, J., Sarkar, S.K., 2022. Seed priming with selenium and zinc nanoparticles modifies germination, growth, and yield of direct-seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.). Scientific Reports 12, 12227. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-16475-x
3. Ahmed, W., Qaswar, M., Jing, H., Wenjun, D., 2020. Tillage practices improve rice yield and soil phosphorus fractions in two typical paddy soils. Journal of Soils and Sediments 20, 2906-2918.
4. Ali, H., Sarwar, N., Ahmad, S., Tariq, A.W., Shahzad, A.N., 2012. Response of wheat crop to phosphorus fertilizers and application methods grown under agro-climatic conditions of southern Punjab. Pak. J. Agri. Sci. 49, 485-489.
5. Alkahtani, J., Elshikh, M.S., Alwahibi, M.S., Muhammad, A., 2020. Phosphorus and zinc fertilization improve productivity and profitability of rice cultivars under rice-wheat system. Agronomy 10, 1942.
6. Alkahtani, J., Elshikh, M.S., Alwahibi, M.S., Muhammad, A., Alharbi, A., 2020. Phosphorus and zinc fertilization improve productivity and profitability of rice cultivars under rice-wheat system. Agronomy 10, 128. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10010128
7. Alloway, B.J., 2013. Zinc in soils and crop nutrition. ISTE Ltd.
8. Amanullah, Asif, M., Sukhdev, S., Malhi, Riaz, A.K., 2009. Effects of phosphorus fertilizer source and plant density on growth and yield of maize in Northwestern Pakistan. Journal of Plant Nutrition 32, 2080-2093.
9. Amanullah, Inamullah, Alwahibi, M.S., Elshikh, M.S., Muhammad, A., 2020. Phosphorus and zinc fertilization improve zinc biofortification in grains and straw of coarse vs. fine rice genotypes. Agronomy 10, 112. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10010112
10. Azeem, K., Khan, A., Naz, F., Ilyas, M., Azeem, I., Anwar, F., Ahmad, W., 2018. Agricultural Research Technology 13, 27-39.
11. Broadley, M.R., Brown, P., Cakmak, I., Rengel, Z., Zhao, F., 2012. Function of nutrients: Micronutrients. In: Marschner’s Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants, 3rd edition. P. Marschner (Ed.). Academic Press, London, UK, pp. 208-265.
12. Cakmak, I., 2008. Zinc deficiency in cultivated crops and human health. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science 171, 571-582.
13. Chaudhuri, S.K., Malodia, L., 2017. Biosynthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using leaf extract of Calotropis gigantea: Characterization and its evaluation on tree seedling growth in nursery stage. Appl. Nanosci. 7, 501-512. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-017-0586-7
14. Cheema, Ullah, N., Khan, N.U., 2006. Effect of Zn on panicle structure and yield of coarse rice. Pak. J. Agri. Res. 1994, 33-37.
15. Cordero-Lara, K.I., 2020. Temperate japonica rice (Oryza sativa L.) breeding: History, present and future challenges. Chilean Journal of Agricultural Research 80, 303-314.
16. Davis-Carter, J.G., Parker, M.B., Gaines, T.P., 1991. Interaction of soil zinc, calcium and pH with zinc toxicity in peanuts. Plant and Soil 145, 339-347.
17. Ding, W., He, P., Zhang, J., Liu, Y., Xu, X., Ullah, S., 2020. Optimizing rates and sources of nutrient input to mitigate nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon losses from rice paddies. Journal of Cleaner Production 252, 119733.
18. Ghanghas, N., MT, M., Sharma, S., Prabhakar, P.K., 2022. Classification, composition, extraction, functional modification and application of rice (Oryza sativa) seed protein: A comprehensive review. Food Reviews International 38, 354-383.
19. Ghoneim, A.M., 2016. Effect of different methods of Zn application on rice growth, yield and nutrients dynamics in plant and soil. Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International 6, 1-9.
20. Hussain, S., Maqsood, M.A., Rengel, Z., Aziz, T., Abid, M., 2013. Estimated zinc bioavailability in milling fractions of biofortified wheat grains and in flours of different extraction rates. Int. J. Agric. Biol. 15, 921-926.
21. Hunt, R., 1979. Plant growth analysis: The rationale behind the use of the fitted mathematical function. Annals of Botany 43, 245-249.
22. Iqbal, M., Aslam, M., Ranja, A.M., Akhtar, J., 2000. Salinity tolerance of rice as affected by Zn application. Pakistan J. Biol. Sci. 3, 2055-2057.
23. Islam, M.S., Rashid, M.H., Kabiraj, M.S., Islam, M.N., 2024. Foliar supplementation of phosphorus and zinc enhanced the yield of Boro rice. Journal of Aridland 14, 1-10.
24. Jiang, B., Jianlin, S., Sun, M., Hu, Y., Jiang, W., 2021. Soil phosphorus availability and rice phosphorus uptake in paddy fields under various agronomic practices. Pedosphere 31, 593-603.
25. Jones Jr, J.B., Case, V.W., 1990. Sampling, handling, and analyzing plant tissue samples. Soil testing and plant analysis 3, 389-427.
26. Kakar, K., Xuan, T.D., Noori, Z., Aryan, S., Gulab, G., 2020. Effects of organic and inorganic fertilizer application on growth, yield, and grain quality of rice. Agriculture 10, 320.
27. Kandil, E.E., El-Banna, A.A.A., Tabl, D.M.M., 2022a. Zinc nutrition responses to agronomic and yield traits, kernel quality, and pollen viability in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Frontiers in Plant Science 13, 839373.
28. Kandil, E.E., El-Banna, A.A.A., Tabl, D.M.M., 2022b. Zinc nutrition responses to agronomic and yield traits, kernel quality, and pollen viability in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Frontiers in Plant Science 13, 854271.
29. Khampuang, K., Lordkaew, S., Dell, B., 2021. Foliar zinc application improved grain zinc accumulation and bioavailable zinc in unpolished and polished rice. Plant Production Science 24, 123-135.
30. Khan, M.U., Qasim, M., Khan, I., 2004. Effect of Zn fertilizer on rice grown in different soils of Dera Ismail Khan. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture 23, 1033-1040.
31. Lin, Q., Lu, J., Zhang, J., Shan, X., 2012. Effects of zinc fertilization on rice yield and grain quality on Zn-deficient paddy soils in southern China. Plant and Soil 356, 283-290.
32. Liu, H.E., Wang, Q.Y., Rengel, Z., Zhao, P., 2015. Zinc fertilization alters flour protein composition of winter wheat genotypes varying in gluten content. Plant Soil Environ. 61, 195-200.
33. Mahmoud Soltani, S., Hosseini Chaleshtori, M., Ebadi, A., 2023. Effect of seed priming with zinc on seed germination characteristics, and morphological characters, and mineral content of rice tissues of Hashemi rice cultivar. Iranian Journal of Soil Science 47, 187-199.
34. Maqsood, M.A., Rahmatullah, S.K., Aziz, T., Ashraf, M., 2009. Evaluation of Zn distribution among grain and straw of twelve indigenous wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes. Pak. J. Bot. 41, 225-231.
35. Marcar, N.E., Graham, R.D., 1986. Effect of seed manganese content on the growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum) under manganese deficiency. Plant Soil 96, 165-173.
36. Mohidem, I., Yusoff, W.M.W., Isa, M.M.M., Nor, M.M., 2020. Influence of foliar applications of zinc and copper on physiological and biochemical changes in rice under copper stress. Rice Science 27, 285-293.
37. Monreal, C., Monreal, M., 2002. Nanotechnology for delivery of bioactive agents for plant productivity: In: Nanotechnology and the Environment. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, pp. 193-205.
38. Niazi, N.K., Manzoor, M., Bibi, I., Shahid, M., Naidu, R., Rinklebe, J., Ok, Y.S., Iqbal, M., 2017. Phosphorus nutrition in plants under arsenic stress: Implications for agriculture and food safety. Agronomy 7, 67.
39. Norton, G.J., Beebout, S., Acuin, M.C., Loeppert, R.H., Farrel, T., Price, A.H., 2010. Effect of organic and mineral soil amendments on zinc uptake by rice grown under flooded conditions. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 56, 437-445.
40. Pal, D., Mandal, B., Bhattacharyya, P., Mandal, L.N., 2000. Influence of phosphorus on the availability of native and applied zinc in submerged soils. Plant and Soil 220, 229-236.
41. Pandey, N., Gupta, B., Pathak, G.C., 2013. Enhancement of growth and yield of rice under zinc deficiency by foliar application of zinc oxide nanoparticles. Plant and Soil 360, 15-24.
42. Prasad, T.N.V.K.V., Sudhakar, P., Sreenivasulu, Y., Latha, P., 2012. Effect of nanoscale zinc oxide particles on the germination, growth and yield of peanut. Journal of Plant Nutrition 35, 905-927.
43. Rashid, A., Ryan, J., 2004. Micronutrient constraints to crop production in soils with Mediterranean-type characteristics: A review. Journal of Plant Nutrition 27, 959-975.
44. Rehman, A., Maqsood, M.A., Akhtar, M.E., Siddique, M., 2006. Residual effect of soil applied zinc on growth, yield and zinc concentration in wheat. Pak. J. Agric. Sci. 43, 16-19.
45. Shivay, Y.S., Prasad, R., 2020. Zinc-coated urea improves productivity and zinc uptake by scented rice. Agronomy Journal 112, 1530-1540.
46. Stevens, G.A., Finucane, M.M., De-Regil, L.M., Paciorek, C.J., Flaxman, S.R., Branca, F., Peña-Rosas, J.P., Bhutta, Z.A., Ezzati, M., 2013. Global, regional, and national trends in haemoglobin concentration and prevalence of total and severe anaemia in children and pregnant and non-pregnant women for 1995-2011: a systematic analysis of population-representative data. Lancet Glob. Health 1, e16-e25.
47. Subba Rao, N.S., 1999. Soil microorganisms and plant growth. Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd.
48. Tariq, A., Mott, C.J.B., Syers, J.K., 1993. The significance of mineral weathering as a source of phosphorus in sandy soils of central Queensland, Australia. Soil Science Society of America Journal 57, 1393-1397.
49. Thavarajah, D., Thavarajah, P., Sarker, A., Vandenberg, A., 2009. Lentils (Lens culinaris Medikus Subspecies culinaris): A whole food for increased iron and zinc intake. J. Agric. Food Chem. 57, 5413-5419.
50. Tomar, S.S., Singh, R.S., Sharma, H.P., 1991. Influence of phosphorus and zinc on lentil (Lens culinaris) yield, protein content, and nutrient uptake in soils of Madhya Pradesh. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 61, 91-93.
51. Welch, R.M., Graham, R.D., 2002. Breeding crops for enhanced micronutrient content. Plant and Soil 245, 205-214.
52. Yamauchi, M., Win, T., Tin, H., Yoshida, S., 1990. Zinc deficiency in the rice plant. Japan Agricultural Research Quarterly 24, 8-14.
53. Zahoor, R., Ur Rehman, M.S., Awais, M., Rengel, Z., Malik, S.A., 2014. Zinc biofortification in rice: Leveraging agriculture to moderate hidden hunger in developing countries. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science 60, 1573-1590.
Article Sidebar
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in JPTCP are licensed under Copyright Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Muhammad Saleem
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture Gomal University, D. I. Khan, Pakistan
Iqtidar Hussain
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture Gomal University, D. I. Khan, Pakistan
Muhammad Aslam
Fodder Research Institute, Sargodha, Pakistan