Effect of Lime and Flooding on Phosphorus Availability and Rice Growth on Two Acidic Lowland Soils

Abstract

Loss of soil‐water saturation may impair growth of rainfed lowland rice by restricting nutrient uptake, including the uptake of added phosphorus (P). For acidic soils, reappearance of soluble aluminum (Al) following loss of soil‐water saturation may also restrict P uptake. The aim of this study was to determine whether liming, flooding, and P additions could ameliorate the effects of loss of soil‐water saturation on P uptake and growth of rice. In the first pot experiment, two acid lowland soils from Cambodia [Kandic Plinthaqult (black clay soil) and Plinthustalf (sandy soil)] were treated with P (45 mg P kg^?1 soil) either before or after flooding for 4 weeks to investigate the effect of flooding on effectiveness of P fertilizer for rice growth. After 4 weeks, soils were air dried and crushed and then wet to field capacity and upland rice was grown in them for an additional 6 weeks. Addition of P fertilizer before rather than after flooding depressed the growth of the subsequently planted upland rice. During flooding, there was an increase in both acetate‐extractable Fe and the phosphate sorption capacity of soils, and a close relationship between them (r²=0.96–0.98). When P was added before flooding, Olsen and Bray 1‐extractable P, shoot dry matter, and shoot P concentrations were depressed, indicating that flooding decreased availability of fertilizer P. A second pot experiment was conducted with three levels of lime as CaCO₃ [to establish pH (CaCl₂) in the oxidized soils at 4, 5, and 6] and four levels of P (0, 13, 26, and 52 mg P kg^?1 soil) added to the same two acid lowland rice soils under flooded and nonflooded conditions. Under continuously flooded conditions, pH increased to over 5.6 regardless of lime treatment, and there was no response of rice dry matter to liming after 6 weeks' growth, but the addition of P increased rice dry matter substantially in both soils. In nonflooded soils, when P was not applied, shoot dry matter was depressed by up to one‐half of that in plants grown under continuously flooded conditions. Under the nonflooded conditions, rice dry matter and leaf P increased with the addition of P, but less so than in flooded soils. Leaf P concentrations and shoot dry matter responded strongly to the addition of lime. The increase in shoot dry matter of rice with lime and P application in nonflooded soil was associated with a significant decline in soluble Al in the soil and an increase in plant P uptake. The current experiments show that the loss of soil‐water saturation may be associated with the inhibition of P absorption by excess soluble Al. By contrast, flooding decreased exchangeable Al to levels below the threshold for toxicity in rice. In addition, the decreased P availability with loss of soil‐water saturation may have been associated with a greater phosphate sorption capacity of the soils during flooding and after reoxidation due to occlusion of P within ferric oxyhydroxides formed.     

Influence of residual phosphate fertilizer on labile and extractable zinc in hawaii soils

Abstract

Zinc availability was studied using five soils from Hawaii which had histories of massive phosphorus applications. Heavy phosphate fertilization usually increased extractable Zn, irrespective of the extractant used. The extra extractable Zn associated with the added P probably came from Zn as an accessory element in the fertilizer. Treble superphosphate commonly used in Hawaii contains about 1400 ppm Zn. The Zn content of phosphate fertilizers must be considered before making statements about the effect of fertilizer P on Zn solubility and availability in soils.

Two solutions (0.1N HCl and 0.005M DTPA) were compared as Zn extractants for Hawaii soils. DTPA extracted less Zn than 0.1N HCl. Zinc extracted by repeated HCl treatment was more closely related to the labile Zn pool (E‐values and L‐values) than was DTPA‐extractable Zn. The results suggest that 0.1N HCl extractable Zn, Zn E‐value and Zn L‐value measured the quantity of a single fraction of soil Zn.

Repeated extraction of soil with 0.1N HCl seems to be a suitable procedure for evaluating the Zn status of acid, highly weathered soils of Hawaii.     

Labile pools of copper and zinc in calcareous soils as measured by DTPA and plant extraction

Abstract

Labile pools of Cu and Zn were measured on two calcareous soils from Saudi Arabia, using successive extraction with DTPA, and successive cropping followed by extraction with DTPA after cropping. The examined soils differed in their ability to supply Cu and Zn. The first DTPA extraction removed a major proportion of the labile pool, particularly in the sandy soil. The two soils showed a general decrease in extractable Cu and Zn with progressive extractions, with DTPA extractable Cu declining more rapidly than Zn. DTPA extractable Cu and Zn determined after cropping were highly correlated with DTPA extractable Cu and Zn values obtained after successive extractions. The results gave evidence on both the contribution of element dissolution from insoluble forms with progressive extraction or cropping, and the usefulness of the DTPA extractant for monitoring the availability of Cu and Zn in these calcareous soils.     

Influence of air drying and soil gas‐phase carbon dioxide on DTPA‐extractable iron in calcareous soils

Abstract

The extraction of a field‐moist soil with DTPA will result in a level of extractable iron (Fe) lower than that of the air‐dried soil. Soil gas‐phase carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels may be considerably higher than ambient atmospheric levels, especially in wet soils in the field. This study was undertaken to determine whether gas‐phase CO₂ level influences the quantity of Fe extracted by DTPA. Three moist calcareous soils were incubated for 21 days, each at three different partial pressures of CO₂, after which the moist soils were extracted with DTPA. A sample of each soil was also air dried, and was subsequently extracted with DTPA. In each case, DTPA‐extractable Fe from the moist sample was lower than that from the air‐dried sample; however, DTPA‐extractable Fe increased with increasing CO₂ partial pressure of in the moist soils. DTPA‐extractable Fe concentration for a given soil following air drying was not significantly influenced by the CO₂ partial pressure during incubation of the originally field‐moist soil. DTPA‐extract pH of the moist soils followed the same trend as soil‐solution pH (i.e., as CO₂ concentration of the soil gas‐phase increased, soil solution pH and DTPA extract pH both decreased); however, the slope of the pH versus log P_CO2 curve was less pronounced in the DTPA extract due to the buffering capacity of the triethanolamine. From this study, it is concluded that elevated soil gas‐phase CO₂ partial pressure does not contribute to the lower level of DTPA‐extractable Fe observed when the extraction is performed on a field‐moist versus an air‐dried soil; increased CO₂ partial pressure actually resulted in a slight increase in concentration of DTPA‐extractable Fe obtained from a field‐moist soil.     

Dry season soil conditions and soil nitrogen availability to wet season wetland rice

A pot experiment with Maahas clay soil covered three consecutive crops. After uniform growth of the first crop, the soils were subjected to different moisture conditions during the dry season. Prolonged drying before wet season flooded rice stimulated increased release of mineral nitrogen but moistening of the dry soil for a dryland crop or by occasional rain during the dry season reduced nitrogen use from the soil in the next wet season. One cycle of alternate wet and dry soil preparation for 20 days before transplanting rice improved soil nitrogen availability and plant uptake of fertilizer nitrogen.

The initial growth of rice was retarded after flooding the previously moist dryland or dried soil, but not in the continuously flooded soils.

Losses of applied nitrogen were small in continuously flooded soils and were greater in the previously moist dryland and dry treatments. Uptake of soil nitrogen, however, was much higher in the air-dried soil treatment and in the dry with alternate wet and dry preparation treatments. Total nitrogen uptake (soil+fertilizer) was also greater in those dry treatments. Uptake of soil nitrogen in the wet-season crop was roughly proportional to the amounts of ammonia measured just before transplanting.

The proportion of the uptake of immobilized fertilizer nitrogen to available soil nitrogen was constant among treatments. Release of immobilized fertilizer nitrogen was also greatly enhanced by soil drying. For 1976 wet-season crop, the availability of fertilizer nitrogen immobilized in the 1975 wet season was three times higher than that of native soil nitrogen.     

Effects of organic matter addition on phosphorus availability to flooded and nonflooded rice in a P‐deficient tropical soil: a greenhouse study

Addition of organic matter (OM) to flooded soils stimulates reductive dissolution of Fe(III) minerals, thereby mobilizing associated phosphate (P). Hence, OM management has the potential to overcome P deficiency. This study assessed if OM applications increases soil or mineral fertilizer P availability to rice under anaerobic (flooded) condition and if that effect is different relative to that in aerobic (nonflooded) soils. Rice was grown in P‐deficient soil treated with combinations of addition of mineral P (0, 26 mg P/kg), OM (0, ~9 g OM/kg as rice straw + cattle manure) and water treatments (flooded vs nonflooded) in a factorial pot experiment. The OM was either freshly added just before flooding or incubated moist in soil for 6 months prior to flooding; blanket N and K was added in all treatments. Fresh addition of OM promoted reductive dissolution of Fe(III) minerals in flooded soils, whereas no such effect was found when OM had been incubated for 6 months before flooding. Yield and shoot P uptake largely increased with mineral P addition in all soils, whereas OM addition increased yield and P uptake only in flooded soils following fresh OM addition. The combination of mineral P and OM gave the largest yield and P uptake. Addition of OM just prior to soil flooding increased P uptake but was insufficient to overcome P deficiency in the absence of mineral P. Larger applications of OM are unlikely to be more successful in flooded soils due to side effects, such as Fe toxicity.     

Effect of wetting and drying on DTPA‐extractable Fe,Zn, Mn,and Cu in soils

Abstract

The study reported herein was intended to determine the effect of (i) wet‐incubation and subsequent air‐drying, and (ii) oven‐drying on DTPA‐Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu.

Analysis of wet‐incubated soils showed significant decreases in DTPA‐Fe, Mn, and Cu at the 1% and Zn at the 10% level of probability. Air‐drying of these moist‐incubated soils increased the levels of Fe, Zn, and Cu to values close to their original levels. Levels of Mn sharply deviated from their original values after air‐drying of incubated soils. Correlation coefficients (r) between the amounts of extractable nutrients in original air‐dry soils and wet‐incubated soils were 0.54, 0.87, 0.91, and 0.13 for Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn, respectively. Oven‐drying increased the levels of DTPA‐extractable micronutrients from 2 to 6 fold.     

Mn and Zn Micronutrients Concentrations in Acidic Soils and Source Identification Using Multivariate Statistical Methods

Available (extractable by diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, DTPA) manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) micronutrient concentrations in acidic agricultural soils from western Greece and their relationships with physicochemical soil parameters were evaluated by sampling and analyzing 82 representative topsoil samples. Manganese concentration in the studied soil samples (on average 31.67 mg kg^?1) was of both sufficient and high levels, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food of the United Kingdom (MAFF classification, in 15.9% and 79.3% of the soil samples, respectively). In contrast, 39% of the soil samples were classified as very low and 58.5% as low in respect to the available Zn concentration (on average 1.36 mg kg^?1). Nevertheless, 9.8% of the studied soils contained less Zn than is commonly accepted as plant‐growth critical level. The dataset was treated using multivariate statistics to describe the relationships of the micronutrients in the studied soils and the factors that influence these relationships. Factor analysis identified soil acidity as the main factor affecting available Mn concentration and phosphate fertilizer application as the main contributor to plant‐available Zn concentration.     

Residual effects of organic Zn fertilizers applied before the previous crop on Zn availability and Zn uptake by flax (Linum usitatissium)

The objective of this study was to compare the residual effect of zinc (Zn) from three Zn chelates (Zn‐aminelignosulfonate, Zn‐AML; Zn‐polyhydroxyphenylcarboxylate, Zn‐PHP; and Zn‐ethylenediaminedisuccinate, Zn‐EDDS), applied at two rates (5 and 10 mg Zn [kg soil]^–1, respectively) to a previous crop, for a flax crop (Linum usitatissimum L.). For the greenhouse experiment, two different soils were used: a weakly acidic soil, classified as Typic Haploxeralf (Soil_acid), and a calcareous soil, classified as Typic Calcixerept (Soil_calc). Plant availability of soil Zn was evaluated using the DTPA‐triethanolamine (TEA), Mehlich 3, and low‐molecular‐weight organic acids (LMWOAs) methods. Easily leachable Zn was determined, and soil Zn status was characterized based on the Zn distribution in different fractions obtained by a sequential extraction. The Zn reserves after the previous crop were substantial and ranged from 2.85% to 5.61% of available Zn (Mehlich 3‐extractable) with respect to the applied Zn. Plant parameters such as dry‐matter yield, total Zn, and soluble Zn concentrations were measured, and Zn utilization by plants was calculated. In both soils, the highest concentrations of available Zn were associated with the application of Zn‐AML at a rate of 10 mg Zn kg^–1. In Soil_acid the largest quantity of easily leachable Zn was also observed with Zn‐AML fertilizer. Similarly, Zn‐AML resulted in the highest Zn concentration in flax seeds (229 mg Zn kg^–1 and 72 mg Zn kg^–1 for the highest rate of Zn application to Soil_acid and Soil_calc, respectively). The results suggest that these Zn chelates resulted in a residual effect in soils with appropriate concentrations of the most labile fractions of Zn and available Zn, particularly when Zn‐AML was applied at the highest rate. This chelate was more effective in Soil_acid than in Soil_calc. In the weakly acidic soil at the lowest Zn level it was associated with the highest percentage of Zn utilization by the flax plant and the most effective Zn transfer from soil to the plant.     

Effect of incubation and microbial inhibition at field moisture capacity on changes in DTPA‐extractable Fe,Zn, and Cu in soils of varying pH

Abstract

To determine the effect of incubation on DTPA‐extractable Fe, Zn, and Cu in soils with a wide pH range (4.2 ‐ 9.4) and to determine the nature of this effect, soils were incubated at field moisture capacity for 1 week with and without a sterilant (toluene). After incubation these soils as well as their air‐dry counterparts were analyzed for DTPA‐extractable Fe, Zn, and Cu.

Incubated soils were significantly lower in DTPA‐extractable Fe, Zn, and Cu than air‐dry soils over all soil pH values tested but there was no significant difference in mean values for incubated soils due to the addition of toluene. The results suggest that, upon incubation at field moisture capacity, the decrease in DTPA‐extractable Fe, Zn, and Cu observed was noa‐microbial in nature.     

An approach to soil testing with special reference to the zinc requirement of rice paddy soils

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to seek a better basis for soil testing of rice paddy soils. Soils were incubated under variable conditions of simulated flooding, and then extracted with DTPA⁵ . The amounts of Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe extracted were sensitive to the imposed soil conditions. Good correlations between Zn extracted from simulated flooded soils and Zn uptakes by rice from flooded soils in pots, suggest that this approach to soil testing may be more useful for paddy soils than existing tests on air dried soils.     

Zinc Deficiency in Rainfed Wheat in Pakistan: Magnitude,Spatial Variability,Management, and Plant Analysis Diagnostic Norms

Abstract

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a widespread micronutrient disorder in crops grown in calcareous soils; therefore, we conducted a nutrient indexing of farmer‐grown rainfed wheat (Triticum aestivum, cv. Pak‐81) in 1.82 Mha Potohar plateau of Pakistan by sampling up to 30 cm tall whole shoots and associated soils. The crop was Zn deficient in more than 80% of the sampled fields, and a good agreement existed between plant Zn concentration and surface soil AB‐DTPA Zn content (r=0.52; p≤0.01). Contour maps of the sampled areas, prepared by geostatistical analysis techniques and computer graphics, delineated areas of Zn deficiency and, thus, would help focus future research and development. In two field experiments on rainfed wheat grown in alkaline Zn‐deficient Typic Haplustalfs (AB‐DTPA Zn, 0.49–0.52 mg kg^?1), soil‐applied Zn increased grain yield up to 12% over control. Fertilizer requirement for near‐maximum wheat grain yield was 2.0 kg Zn ha^?1, with a VCR of 4∶1. Zinc content in mature grain was a good indicator of soil Zn availability status, and plant tissue critical Zn concentration ranges appear to be 16–20 mg kg^?1 in young whole shoots, 12–16 mg kg^?1 in flag leaves, and 20–24 mg Zn kg^?1 in mature grains.     

DISTRIBUTION AND PHYTOAVAILABILITY PREDICTION OF ZINC IN AGRICULTURAL CALCAREOUS SOILS

The extractability and distributions of zinc (Zn) were evaluated in calcareous agricultural soils from South-West Iran. Both single [diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)] and sequential extraction procedures (Singh scheme) were applied to 20 representative soils. The DTPA extractable zinc levels were low (on average 3.34%). The sequential extraction procedures were also utilized for the study of zinc phytoavailability in maize plants (Zea mays L.) in a greenhouse experiment. The Singh scheme was significantly better than DTPA plus soil properties in phytoavailability prediction of zinc in soils. Significant correlations were found between the amounts of DTPA extractable zinc and the iron (Fe) oxides-bound (AFe and CFe) and residual fractions extracted by the Singh procedure. Zinc concentrations in plant samples (mean value of 27.49 mg kg^?1) were poorly correlated with the different extracted soil fractions (single and sequential). The Singh procedure provided better predictions of zinc uptake by plants than DTPA extraction method.     

Zinc fertilization of lentil for grain yield and grain zinc concentration in ten Saskatchewan soils

Fertilization of grain legumes with zinc (Zn) can affect both marketable yield and Zn content of the grain, which is important in addressing human nutritional deficiencies in certain regions of the world. A pot experiment was conducted to determine the response of three different market classes of lentil to Zn fertilization using ten surface soils from Saskatchewan (Canada). The distribution of Zn among labile and stable fractions chemically separated from the soil was also determined in the ten prairie soils and related to the lentil responses observed. The three market classes of lentils (large and small green, small red) were grown without Zn (control), and with 2.5 and 5 kg Zn ha^?1 added as zinc sulfate to each soil prior to planting. Zinc fertilizer application significantly influenced grain yield and was soil dependent. A significant increase in grain yield over the control was observed from application of Zn on some low organic matter, high pH Brown Chernozem soils whereas a decrease in grain yield over control was observed in other soils such as a Black Chernozem of high organic matter content and low (<7) pH. Lack of positive yield response to addition of Zn were related to measured high diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) extractable and plant root simulator (PRS) resin membrane probe Zn, and large amounts of native Zn in exchangeable and iron/manganese (Fe/Mn) oxide bound fractions. Application of Zn fertilizer generally increased the grain concentration of Zn. For example, an increase of ～20% in Zn concentration over control was observed when 5 kg Zn ha^?1 was added to a loamy textured low organic matter Brown Chernozem soil. Overall, small green lentil was more consistent in producing a positive response to Zn fertilizer application on soils with low plant available Zn compared to large green lentil and small red lentil.     

Micronutrient status of crops in selected areas is Egypt

Abstract

Reclamation of sandy and calcareous desert lands in. Egypt for intensive cropping has considerable effect on the fertilizer requirement for most crops. The yield records, together with frequent visual appearances of micronutrient deficiency symptoms on economically important crops were the main reasons for investigating the status of micronutrients in these areas by means of leaf and soil analyses. Sites were selected to represent sandy and calcareous soils in newly reclaimed areas as well as loamy alluvial ones in the Nile‐Valley and Delta. Over 10000 soil and leaf samples were collectes in the last 5 years to evaluate the soil/plant fertility status within the area. The major deficiencies were found to be of Fe Mn and Zn revealed in both soil and plant analyses. Regarding soil type effects, Fe‐deficiency dominated on calcareous soil, Zn‐deficit on the sandy soils and Mn‐deficiency mostly on alluvial soils. Leguminous crops were most sensitive to Fe‐deflciency whereas cereals; especially maize and rice were most sensitive to Zn‐deficiency. It is problem that using Zn, Mn, Fe fertilizer will become a common practice in Egypt for different crops in the near future.

In some west‐Delta calcareous areas, high B was found in both soils and plants. Also, Cu accumulation accurred due to the heavy use of Cu‐fungicides which may eventually become a major pollution problem.     

Micronutrient deficiencies in rainfed calcareous soils of Pakistan. IV. Zinc nutrition of sorghum

Abstract

Zinc (Zn) deficiency in crops is a major micronutrient disorder particularly in alkaline‐calcareous soils like those of the rainfed Potohar plateau in Pakistan. A nutrient indexing of sorghum (cv. Potohar 4–8) by sampling <30 cm tall whole shoots and associated soils from 255 random field locations revealed that the crop was deficient in Zn in 54% fields in Jehlum district and 64% in Chakwal. In a greenhouse experiment using a Zn‐deficient calcareous Typic Ustorthents, maximum increase in grain yield with Zn fertilizer was 177% over control in improved sorghum variety (cv. PARC‐SS‐1) and only 10% in local sorghum (cv. Potohar 4–8). Although biomass production of cv. PARC‐SS‐1 was much greater compared with cv. Potohar 4–8, fertilizer Zn requirement for the two cultivars was not much different, 8.3 mg Zn/kg soil for improved sorghum variety and 7.3 mg Zn/kg for local sorghum variety. Contrary to its higher sensitivity to Zn deficiency, the improved sorghum variety was more efficient in utilizing fertilizer Zn. Despite low Zn availability in the Potohar fields, local sorghum is not expected to respond to fertilizer Zn. However, adequate Zn fertility must be assured for cultivating improved sorghum in these soils. Zinc content in mature grains of sorghum proved a good index of soil Zn fertility status. Internal Zn requirement in foliar plant parts of cv. PARC‐SS‐1 (whole shoots, 33 mg/kg; leaves, 22 mg/kg) was greater than in cv. Potohar 4–8 (whole shoots, 27 mg/kg; leaves, 20 mg/kg). In contrast, critical Zn content in grains of the improved sorghum variety (10 mg/kg) was lower than of local variety (14 mg/kg). Three soil tests were equally effective in determining soil Zn fertility. Critical soil Zn levels for cv. PARC‐SS‐1 were: DTPA, 3.4 mg/kg; AB‐DTPA, 3.7 mg/kg; and Mehlich 3, 8.0 mg/dm³. Similar to internal Zn requirement in foliar plant parts, soil test critical Zn levels were lower for cv. Potohar 4–8, i.e., DTPA, 3.1 mg/kg; AB‐DTPA, 3.5 mg/kg; and Mehlich 3, 7.2 mg/dm³. Because of their better efficiency, ‘universal’ soil tests appear superior to the DTPA test for routine Zn analysis.     

Zinc requirement of corn grown on two calcareous soils of Pakistan

In greenhouse studies, corn (Zea mays L.) growth increased with Zn fertilization of two alkaline calcareous soils. Zinc concentration and total uptake increased with Zn application. Very high correlations were recorded between plant tissue Zn concentration, total Zn uptake and soil Zn levels determined by DTPA and AB-DTPA soil tests. Correlation between Zn concentration in plants and relative yield was poor. However, close relationships were revealed between extractable soil Zn and relative yield. Near maximum dry matter yield of corn was associated with a fertilizer rate of 2 mg Zn/kg soil. Plant tissue Zn-requirement was 27 mg/kg in 15 days old plants and 32 mg/kg in corn shoots of 40 day age. Critical soil test Zn level was 1.2 mg/kg by DTPA and 1.7 mg/kg by AB-DTPA method. Use of AB-DTPA soil test is suggested for evaluating Zn status of calcareous soils.     

The profile distribution of total and extractable zinc in selected Nigerian soils

Abstract

The profile distribution of total, DTPA‐ and 0.1 N HC1‐extractable Zn was determined in 11 Nigerian soil profiles formed on various parent Materials including the coastal plain sands, shales, basalt, granite and banded gneiss.

The total content ranged from 9 to 84 ppm. Generally soils developed on igneous rocks contained more Zn than those on sedimenatary deposits. Among the soils on sedimentary rocks, those on shale had more total Zn than those on sandstones. Total Zn was weakly correlated with organic matter but strongly associated vith clay content and free oxides of iron and manganese.

The amounts of Zn extracted by DTPA and 0.1 N HC1 ranged from 0.01 to 10.98 and from 0.23 to 6.25 ppm, respectively. The dilute acid generally removed more Zn from the soils than did the DTPA. The amounts extracted generally decreased vith depth especially vith DTFA extractant. Soils developed on basalt and shales contained the highest amounts of 0.1 N HCl‐extractable Zn while those on basement complex rocks gave the highest values of DTPA‐extractable Zn. Extractable Zn from soils on coastal plain sands remained relatively lev. The extractable Zn was more associated vith organic matter than vith clay content.     

Evaluation of Various Zinc Extractants in Lowland Rice Soil under the Influence of Zinc Sulfate and Chelated Zinc

Field experiments were conducted on rice (cv ‘IET 4094’) in an Aeric endoaquept (pH 7.2) to evaluate the various zinc (Zn) extractants in lowland rice soil under the influence of Zn sulfate and chelated Zn. The diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), 0.1 N hydrochloric acid (HCl), and 0.05 N HCl‐extractable Zn concentrations in soil increased initially up to the Z29 stage of crop growth when Zn was applied as a single basal source, being greater with Zn ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Zn‐EDTA) compared to zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄) application. Among the various extractants, the performance of 0.1 N HCl in extracting Zn was better than the other two extractants and followed the trend 0.1 N HCl > 0.005 M DTPA > 0.05 N HCl. The greatest increase in grain and straw yield of rice was 37.8 and 20.4%, respectively, over the control in the treatment T₇ (1 kg Zn ha^?1 as Zn‐EDTA at basal).