Effect of phosphorus, potassium and zinc fertilizers on iron toxicity in wetland rice (Oryza sativa L.)

During the period January-August 1996, an investigation was carried out in La Mata, Cotui, Dominican Republic with the objective to study the effect of P, K and Zn fertilizers on Fe toxicity in the rice varieties JUMA-57 (sensitive to Fe toxicity), ISA-40 and PSQ-4 (both tolerant to Fe toxicity). The rate of fertilizer application was 22 and 62 kg P ha(-1); 58 and 116 kg K ha(-1); 3 and 7 kg Zn ha(-1) and a constant dose of 140 kg N ha(-1) and 40 kg S ha(-1) on all fertilized plots. The control received no fertilizer. JUMA-57 was the only variety that showed symptoms of Fe toxicity. The observed symptoms showed a yellow to orange colour. Symptoms of Fe toxicity appeared first one week after transplanting (WAT), decreased at the fourth WAT, but returned six WAT and continued until the end of the experiment. Fertilizer application reduced symptom intensity and increased grain yield in all varieties, but only JUMA-57 did not reach the maximum yield typical for that variety. Fertilizer application did not completely overcome the toxicity effect, i.e. in symptom intensity and grain yield. The positive effect of fertilizer application could not be attributed to a specific nutrient. Intensity of symptoms was not related to Fe concentration in the leaves. The average Fe concentration of 108 mg kg(-1) was not high enough to be considered toxic. Symptoms could not be explained through Mn toxicity (average Mn concentration in the leaves was 733 mg kg(-1)) nor Zn deficiency (average Zn concentration in the leaves was 20 mg kg(-1)). There was a clear relationship, though, between soil DTPA extractable Fe and symptom intensity or grain yield. The toxic effect was observed when the DTPA extractable Fe in the flooded soil was above 200 mg kg(-1). From these results, we concluded that the Fe toxicity resulted from high Fe in the root zone and not from high Fe concentrations in the leaves.