Growth parameters of direct-seeded rice as influenced by crop establishment methods and zinc fertilization

An experiment of direct - seeded rice involving three crop establishment methods (conventional till - direct seeded rice, conventional till - wet direct seeded rice and zero till - direct seeded rice) in the main plots and five zinc fertilization treatments [(control, 3 kg zinc ha - 1 (basal application), 3 kg zinc ha - 1 (foliar application), 6 kg zinc ha - 1 (basal application) and 6 kg zinc ha - 1 (foliar application)] in the sub - plots was undertaken in a split - plot design with three replications at Agricultural Research Farm, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi during Kharif season of 2016 - 17. The growth parameters viz., plant height, dry matter accumulation m - 1 row length and the total number of tillers m - 1 row length were recorded at 30, 60, 90 days after sowing and at harvesting stage whereas leaf count m - 1 row length and leaf area index were observed at 30, 60 and 90 days after sowing. Results revealed that among crop establishment methods, conventional till - wet direct seeded rice observed higher plant height (40.94, 83.88, 108.26 and 108.54 cm), dry matter accumulation (38.41, 82.24, 182.23 and 194.45 g), total number of tillers (46.64, 71.90, 63.20 and 60.79) leaf count (146.09, 238.54 and 249.83) and leaf area index (1.41, 3.51 and 4.84) at all the crop growth stages. With respect to zinc fertilization, 6 kg Zn ha - 1 (basal application) was found superior over rest of the treatment and recorded higher plant height (41.34, 83.98, 108.43 and 108.81 cm), dry matter accumulation (41.41, 81.68, 180.16 and 190.77 g), total number of tillers (40.51, 74.39, 66.56 and 64.90) leaf count (147.95, 234.98 and 246.11) and leaf area index (1.41, 3.43 and 4.73) at all the crop growth stages. Based on the results, it is concluded that conventional till - wet direct seeded rice and 6 kg Zn ha - 1 (basal application) was found to be better for growth parameters of direct - seeded rice