EFFECT OF NANO ZN AND FE COMPOSITE ON THE MICRONUTRIENT BIOFORTIFICATION OF RICE IN COASTAL SOIL

To evaluate the influence of Biochar and Zeolite based Zn and Fe nanocomposites on the growth, yield, and biofortification of Zn and Fe in rice, a pot experiment was conducted in the Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University. The following treatments namely, T1 -RDF (Control), T2 -RDF + ZnSO4 + FeSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1, T3 –RDF + Nano ZnO + Nano FeO foliar @ 500 ppm, T4 -RDF + Nano Zeolite composite 1g kg-1, T5 -RDF + Nano Biochar composite 1g kg-1, T6 - RDF + Nano Zeolite composite + Nano foliar @ 500 ppm, T7 - RDF + Nano Biochar composite + Nano foliar@ 500 ppm were studied in Completely Randomized Design in three replications with rice variety ADT 43. The experimental soil had pH 8.11 and EC 2.53 dS m-1. The available N, P, and K status were 109.5, 3.9 and 99.1 mg kg-1 respectively. The DTPA extractable Zn and Fe content was 0.66 and 1.53 mg kg-1 respectively. The results of the pot experiment showed that the application of recommended dose of fertilizers + Nano Biochar Composite 1g kg-1 + Nano Foliar (Zn and Fe) @ 500 ppm excelled all other treatments in increasing the growth characteristics and yield attributes. This treatment recorded a grain and straw yield of 27.7 and 42.1 g-1 pot respectively. This treatment also significantly increased the concentration of Zn and Fe in rice grains by recording higher Zn (23.5 mg kg-1) and Fe (225 mg kg-1).