Evaluation of Soil and Foliar Applied Zinc Sources on Rice (Oryza sativa) Genotypes in Saline Environments

Zinc (Zn) application to rice crop under saline conditions is an important approach to sustain yield but methods for application with zinc sources are important to improve salinity tolerance in different rice genotypes. This study compared the response of rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties to soil and foliar applied ZnSO4 and Zn-EDTA. Four week old seedlings of four rice genotypes (KSK-133, Bas-198, Bas-2000 and IR-6) were grown in soil with salinity maintained at two levels (control and EC 7 dS m(-1)). Soil and foliar Zn were applied using 15 mg kg(-1) ZnSO4 and Zn-EDTA as source. Salinity stress adversely reduced the plant growth while Zn applications increased the plant biomass production. On the basis of dry biomass production, shoot K+, Na+ and Zn concentration KSK-133 was regarded as salt tolerant, followed by Bas-2000 and IR-6 while Bas-198 considered as salt sensitive. The soil application of Zn-EDTA increased the plant growth and yield while under saline conditions foliar applied ZnSO4 proved as a good source as its application increased the growth, yield and Zn grain contents. Zn application reduced the adverse effects of salt stress by improving the agronomic attributes and could be used as an effective tool for rice production. (C) 2016 Friends Science Publishers