Concentration and uptake of secondary nutrients (Ca, Mg, S) in rice as influenced by duration of variety and nitrogen fertilization
A field experiment was conducted for 2 years at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to study the effects of duration of variety and nitrogen fertilization on the Ca, Mg and S concentration and uptake in rice. In general, the concentrations of Ca, Mg and S were not significantly influenced by the duration of the rice variety. N fertilization had a tendency to increase the concentration of Ca, Mg and S at 45 days after transplanting as well as at harvest; however, the difference was significant only in the case of the Ca concentration in the grain and only when the N level was raised from 60 to 120 kg N/ha. The duration of the rice variety had a significant effect on the Ca, Mg and S uptake by the straw and grain at harvest, which was higher in the medium duration variety Pusa Basmati-1 than in Pusa Jaldi Dhan-1, mainly due to the higher yields obtained with the former cultivar. Nitrogen application significantly increased the Ca, Mg and S uptake at harvest mainly due to its increasing effects on the grain and straw yields of rice. The average uptake of Ca, Mg and S was 12.6, 13.6 and 3.5 kg per metric ton of grain, respectively.