Influence of biochar and zeolite-based Zn and Fe nano composites on nutrient content, uptake, and agronomic fortification of Zn and Fe in rice

The present investigation aims to optimize the effect of biochar and zeolite-based nano composites (Zn and Fe) on the various factors such as nutrient content and nutrient uptake and Agronomic fortification of Zn and Fe in rice. Seven types of completely randomized design treatment were examined using Aduthurai-43 rice (ADT 43) with three replications, namely, Tr-1 – RFD NPK(120:40:40) (Control), Tr-2 – RFD + FeSO4 at 25 kg·ha−1 + ZnSO4 at 25 kg·ha−1, Tr-3 – RFD + nano FeO + nano ZnO foliar at 500 ppm, Tr-4 – RFD + 1 g·kg−1 of nano zeolite composite, Tr-5 – RFD + 1 g·kg−1 of nano biochar composite, Tr-6 – RFD + nano FeO + nano ZnO foliar each at 500 ppm + nano zeolite composite, and Tr-7 – RFD + nano FeO + nano ZnO foliar each at 500 ppm + 1 g·kg−1 nano biochar composite. To determine the major and micro nutrient contents, grain samples and straw samples (harvest) were collected and examined using two acid extract, prepared from H2SO4 and HClO4 solution with 5:1 ratio. Among the treatments, Tr-7 significantly increased the NPK content of 0.99, 0.30 and 0.69 and Zn and Fe content by registering 22.4 and 246 mg·kg−1 of Zn and Fe, respectively, by grain and 50.7 and 241 mg·kg−1, respectively, by straw.