Replication data: Zn efficient rice genotypes alter soil Zn availability, composition and Zn uptake in Zn-deficient and Zn-sufficient field soils under continuous flooding

Soil Zn availability and supply determine the success of rice grain Zn biofortification program. In flooded rice production system however, soil Zn availability is limited due to immobilization of Zn into unavailable forms. The present study investigated the effects of genotypes and planting density on soil Zn forms and distribution and plant Zn uptake under Zn-deficient and Zn-sufficient field soils during maturity. Rice genotypes with differing tolerance to Zn deficiency [Zn –biofortified (ZnB), Zn-efficient (ZnT) and Zn-inefficient (ZnS)] were grown at two planting densities [D1 (one plant per hill) and D5 (five plants per hill)] in BAY (Zn-deficient) and IRRI (Zn-sufficient) soils in the Philippines. Results revealed that Zn forms were significantly altered by genotypes rather than planting density where water-extractable Zn (W-Zn) and exchangeable Zn (Exc-Zn) in soils grown with ZnB had significantly higher concentrations than ZnS. This was translated into better (P