Effect of zinc fertiliser management on the performance of puddled transplanted rice

A field experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, during the aman season (June-November 2019) to evaluate the effects of different zinc (Zn) fertiliser management practices on the growth, yield-contributing characters, and yield of puddled transplanted rice. The experiment was arranged in a randomised complete block design with four replications. Seven Zn management treatments were evaluated: no Zn application ( \mathrm{T_0} ), basal application of the recommended dose (22 kg \mathrm{ZnSO_4} . \mathrm{7H_2O} ha⁻¹) ( \mathrm{T_1} ), foliar application of 0.5% \mathrm{ZnSO_4} . \mathrm{7H_2O} at tillering ( \mathrm{T_2} ), soil application of the recommended dose at tillering ( \mathrm{T_3} ), foliar application at panicle initiation ( \mathrm{T_4} ), soil application of 50% of the recommended dose at tillering plus foliar application at panicle initiation ( \mathrm{T_5} ), and split foliar application at both tillering and panicle initiation stages ( \mathrm{T_6} ). Zinc fertilisation significantly influenced most growth and yield attributes of rice. Basal Zn application produced the tallest plants (104.91 cm), the highest number of total tillers (17.52 hill⁻¹), and effective tillers (16.32 hill⁻¹). In contrast, split foliar application ( \mathrm{T_6} ) resulted in the longest panicles (23.32 cm), the highest number of grains panicle⁻¹ (118.40), filled grains panicle⁻¹ (109.82), grain yield (5.98 t ha⁻¹), and straw yield (8.51 t ha⁻¹). Thousand-grain weight and harvest index were not significantly affected by Zn management. The superior performance of \mathrm{T_6} indicates that synchronising Zn supply with critical growth stages improved Zn utilisation and enhanced reproductive development, leading to greater yield formation. Therefore, split foliar application of 0.5% \mathrm{ZnSO_4} . \mathrm{7H_2O} at tillering and panicle initiation stages may be recommended as an effective Zn management strategy for improving the productivity of puddled transplanted rice.