Abstract

Productivity of rice can be improved application of zinc and iron fortified micronutrients for which different levels, sources, and applications are yet to be optimized. Therefore, field experiments were conducted during 2018 and 2019 at Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu, India. The experiments were laid out in randomized block design replicated thrice with thirteen treatments with various combinations of zinc and iron fertilizers. The results revealed that growth and yield attributes of rice viz., plant height, leaf area index, dry matter production, productive tillers per square meter, number of grains per panicle, test weight and the grain yield (6.08 t/ha) were recorded significantly higher in the soil application of ZnSO4 @25 kg/ha + FeSO4 @30 kg/ha + foliar application of Zn EDTA @1% + Fe EDTA @ 1 %. Higher net benefit of Rs. 52,228/ha with a benefit cost ratio of 2.13 were recorded in the soil application treatment of ZnSO4 @25 kg/ha + soil application of FeSO4 @30 kg/ha.