Influence of Zinc and Boron upon Grain Mass and Total Protein of some Rice Cultivars

Nutrients required to rice plants are supplied through soil in the form of fertilizers and manures. Intensive cropping, application of soil amendments in problematic soils and heavy dose of major nutrients particularly phosphorus has resulted in deficiency of several micro-nutrients, especially zinc and boron in rice fields. Physicochemical attributes may vary upon micronutrient via; Zn and B application with the recommended doses of N and P. Therefore, field experiment was conducted to assess the response in terms of some physicochemical attributes (grain mass and total protein content of five rice varieties; IRRI-6, IRRI-9, DR-92, DR-84 and Shahkaar over different treatments of fertilizers. Experimental field was divided into fifty-five (55) sub-plot of 3 x 5 m2 each. Ureaas N, DAPas P, Zinc Sulphateas Zn and Boric Acid as B were applied. Higher GM: 25.7 g, 24.3 g, 24.3 g, 25.4 g and 25.8 g; and total protein content: 11.1, 10.7, 10.4, 10.5 and 10.9% was found in IRRI-6, IRRI-9, DR-92, DR-84 and Shahkaar respectively. GM and protein significantly (p<0.05) increased within varieties at each treatment.