Enrichment of Rice Cultivars with Fe at Different Plant Growth Stages through Ferti-Fortification

An experiment was conducted at the farm research area, Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, to investigate the Fe content of five rice cultivars (PR113, PR116, PR118, PR120 and PAU 201) at maximum tillering, pre-anthesis and post anthesis stages through ferti-fortification. Plant samples collected at different stages of growth were digested in diacid mixture of HNO₃ and HClO₄ (3:1) for the analysis of total Fe. The concentration of Fe in these samples was determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Varian AAS-FS 240 model). The results of our experimental study showed that concentration of Fe in different plant parts at different growth stages of rice crop increased with three foliar spray of FeSO₄.7H₂O with 0.5% and 1% levels. The results indicated that at maximum tillering stage, the maximum Fe concentration was observed in PR113 (234.4 mg kg⁻¹) and PR116 cultivars (289.2 mg kg⁻¹) with 0.5% and 1% levels of FeSO₄.7H₂O spray, respectively. At pre-anthesis stage, the maximum Fe concentration was reported in flag leaves of PR120 cultivar with 0.5% (155.5 mg kg⁻¹) and with 1% (175.2 mg kg⁻¹) levels of FeSO₄.7H₂O spray, whereas in case of plant samples (without panicle), the maximum Fe concentration was observed in PR120 cultivar with 0.5% (279.9 mg kg⁻¹) and 1% (313.9 mg kg⁻¹) levels of FeSO₄.7H₂O spray. The results further indicated that the maximum Fe accumulation was observed in panicle of PR120 (72.8 mg kg⁻¹) and PAU 201 cultivars (83.0 mg kg⁻¹) with 0.5% and 1% levels of FeSO₄.7H₂O spray, respectively. On the other hand, at post anthesis stage, the maximum Fe concentration was reported in flag leaves of PR116 (375.4 mg kg⁻¹) with 0.5% level and PR120 (424.0 mgkg⁻¹) with 1% level of FeSO₄.7H₂O spray. The results further revealed that with 0.5% and 1% levels of FeSO₄.7H₂O spray, the maximum Fe concentration was reported in panicle samples of PAU 201 cultivar (69.0 mg kg⁻¹ and 122.0 mg kg⁻¹, respectively).