Nutrient deficiency symptoms, identification and judicious use

fertilizers to overcome problem in Paddy

Rajan Bhatt
Assistant professor (Soil Science)
KVK, Kapurthala

Rice:
Cultivation of high yielding verities of this crop without replenishing the nutrients removed and in
non-ideal soil conditions has given rise to a number of nutritional problems. Among the essential
micronutrients, deficiencies of zinc and iron are commonly encountered in rice grown in different
areas. It is, therefore, important to be familiar with the soil situations prone to these deficiencies,
deficiency symptoms in rice plants and the efficient techniques for their correction.

Zinc Deficiency

Zinc deficiency is a common problem of soils having thee following properties

 Coarse texture
 Poor organic matter
 High pH
 High calcium carbonate content
 High Phosphorus
 Flood plains (Bet Areas)
 Irrigation water having high percentage of bicarbonates and phosphorus nutrient.
 Irrigation with the sodic water

Use of inadequate quantity of zinc fertilizer with respect to requirement of the crops over the years may
leave the soil deficient in this nutrient. Rice crop is highly sensitive to the Zn deficiency and in the absence
of adequate supply of this micro-nutrient, it produces low yield. On an average, the crops growing in a soil
with poor supply of zinc undergo a yield loss of about 10q ha-1.
Deficiency Symptoms

Symptoms of thee zinc deficiencies appear about 2-3 weeks after transplanting of the rice nursery.
They first appear on the lower leaves (Older leaves) as small light yellowish brown spots in the
intervenal areas. These spots later enlarge, join together and turn deep brown giving a rusty look
to thee affected leaves. In case of acute deficiency, the whole plant looks rusty. Tillering and the
leaf size are reduced and plants show bushy and stunted growth. The leaves finally dry up and
float on water. In the plants with severe zinc deficiency, earing and maturity are delayed.

Correction

Among the different sources through which the Zn can be supplied to the soil, zinc sulphate, is the
most efficient and commonly used for meeting the requirement of the Zn to the rice crop.
Application of the 25 kg heptahydrate zinc sulphate (21.5 % Zn) or 15 kg monohydrate zinc
sulphate (33 %) per acre or 62 kg heptahydrate zinc sulphate (21.5 % Zn) or 37.5 kg monohydrate
zinc sulphate (33 %) per hectare to the soil immediately on thee appearance of thee deficiency
symptoms can correct thee deficiency of the Zn in rice. However, under the acute Zn deficiency,
the soil application may bee supplemented with foliar spray of 0.5 % solution of heptahydrate zinc
sulphate (1kg in 200 liter of water) or 0.33 % monohydrate zinc sulphate (660 g monohydrate zinc
sulphate in 200 litre of water).

It is very important to remember that the soil application of the zinc sulphate is always better
compared to the foliar application as the soil applied zinc sulphate not only meet the need of
thee present crop but also the need of the next crop as it had a residual effect.

Iron
Rice crop grown on highly permeable coarse texture soils very frequently becomes a victim of
iron deficiency. About 5 % of the area under rice in our state is characterized with coarse textured
soils. The problem results from the inability of the soil (Coarse textured) to pond water for a long
time. Actually, such soils are not deficient in iron but it is not present in form that is usually taken
up by the rice plant owing to the absence of adequate reduced conditions within thee root zone of
the crop.

Iron deficiency is a common problem of soils having the following properties

 Coarse texture
 Poor organic matter
 High pH
 High calcium carbonate content
 Irrigation with the sodic water

Under the severe iron deficiency conditions sometimes the whole crop fails completely.

Deficiency Symptoms

Symptoms of iron deficiency first appears on thee young leaves in the form of interveinal
chlorosis. This is followed by yellowing of veins of the leaves and then the mid rib. In case of
severe deficiency, the affected leaves get bleached (Become whitish) and newly emerging leaves
also looks bleached. Sometimes, red lesions (Spots) may develop in the bleached region. The
growth of the affected plants is restricted and they ultimately die.

Correction

Among different sources of the iron, ferrous sulphate becomes the best to supply the iron to the
crop. But iron applied to the soil gets converted to unavailable forms, thus the foliar application is
an economical and the best way to correct the deficiency of this nutrient.
1. Immediately after the appearance of thee iron deficiency, the crop should be
sprayed with 1.0 % solution of ferrous sulphate by dissolving 1 kg of ferrous
sulphate in 100 liter of water. Generally, 3-4 sprays are sufficient to correct thee
deficiency in rice, except in case of acute deficiency where more number of sprays
may bee required.
2. Reducing the plot size can also help to ensure prolonged pounding of water in the
coarse textured soil and thus which may helps in availability of the native iron
present in the soil.
3. Incorporation of a healthy 40-50 days old green manure crop of sesbania
(Dhaincha/Jantar) every year before transplanting rice markedly reduce the
occurrence of iron deficiency in the rice.