Amelioration of Iron Deficiency in Direct Seeded Aerobic Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) with Iron Seed Priming in Textually Different Soils

Deficiency of iron (Fe) in direct seeded aerobic rice (DSR) is a severe issue resulting in improper growth and low yield due to poor crop establishment. The Fe seed priming has potential to ensure enhanced growth and optimal Fe concentration in aerobic rice. Hence, field experiments were conducted in sandy loam and sandy clay loam soils with eight treatments i.e. T1-Control, T2-foliar application of ferrous sulfate (FeSO4.7 h2O-1.0%), T3-seed priming (FeSO4.7 h2O-0.5%Fe), T4-seed priming (FeSO4.7 h2O-1.0%Fe), T5-seed priming with ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid chelated iron (Fe-EDTA-0.25% Fe), T6-seed priming (EDTA-0.5% Fe), T7-seed priming with iron oxide nanoparticles (FeO NPs-0.025%Fe) and T8-seed priming (FeO NPs-0.05%Fe). The Fe seed priming resulted in considerable improvement in rice growth with maximum grain and straw yield of 6.23 and 11.9 t ha-1 in treatment T4, respectively. However, the treatment T6 showed significant increase in Fe concentration in paddy grain and straw over control. Similarly, higher Fe content in paddy foliage at 35and 70 days after sowing was observed in treatment T6.The percent increase in grain and straw yield of DSR was more in sandy loam soil than sandy clay loam soils. The Fe content in grain, straw and paddy foliage was higher in sandy clay loam soils than sandy loam soils. The sandy loam soil was more responsive than sandy clay loam soils. Thus, present study concluded that Fe seed priming with FeSO4.7 h2O (1.0%) is best forproper growth, adequate Fe content during growth stages and also to reduce the Fe deficiency in DSR.