Effect of Soil Amendments on Yield and Iron Content of Rice in Iron Toxic Soil

A field experiment was conducted in an iron toxic soil (Aeric Haplaquept) to study the effect of fly ash, lime, potash, zinc and manganese on yield and iron content of rice plant. Symptoms of iron toxicity were appeared at 25-30 days after transplanting (DAT) and bronzing symptoms were scored as per IRRI standards (1-6 scale). The score values ranged from 3-8 in susceptible Jajati variety and from 1-3 in tolerant Mahsuri variety. The mean grain yield and iron concentration in leaf ranged from 19.04 to 24.29 q ha^-1 and 719.10-936.85 ppm, respectively with application of NPK only (control). By application of different soil amendments the grain yield increased by 10.93 to 63.95 per cent and iron content in plant reduced by 2.73 to 43.04 per cent over control. Among the soil amendments lime and zinc were found superior to other soil amendments. However, fly ash, a by product of thermal power plant with high silica content can be used as a low cost amendment for correction of iron toxicity.