Effect of foliar application of zinc and iron on growth, yield and quality of rice (Oryza sativa) in acid soils of eastern Himalayan region

A field experiment was conducted at the Research farm of ICAR Research complex for North Eastern Hill Region (NEHR), Manipur Centre, Lamphelpat during kharif season of 2014, 2015 and 2016 to study the effect of Zn and Fe content on yield attributes, yield and quality of rice. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with eight treatment combinations of different foliar dose of Zinc (Zn) and Iron (Fe). The result revealed that foliar application of 2% ZnSO4 (0.5%) at tillering + 0.5% at stem elongation + 0. 5% at booting + 0.5% at grain filling) increased the yield of rice (36.34%) grain, Zn content (up to 48.17 ppm), enhanced the economics of rice production (Return/` invested 2.32), crop profitability up to `123.54 ha/day over the control (no foliar spray) and recorded better energy budget. On the other hand, foliar application of 1. 5% FeSO4 (0.5% tillering+ 0.5% at booting + 0.5% at grain filling) also recorded increase in rice yield (26.56%), grain Fe content (up to 40.0 ppm), enhanced the economics of rice production (return/` invested 2.24), crop profitability up to `91.09 ha/day and recorded better energy budget.