Silicon (Si) and Zn are beneficial for improving plant growth and human health. Fortifying rice (Oryza sativa L.) with Si and Zn can correct deficiencies of these elements in humans who consume rice. The present study evaluated the effects of different Si and Zn application forms as nanoparticles (NPs) foliar application and soil application (traditional fertilizers) on agronomic performance, grain yield (GY), Si and Zn accumulation, and protein content in rice tissue. The experiment was performed as a randomized complete block design with a factorial set of treatments that included three Si treatments (0, soil‐Si, nano‐Si) and three Zn treatments (0, soil‐Zn, nano‐Zn) with three replicates in two experimental farms (Mazandaran, Iran). The results indicated that Si and Zn applications by both NPs (300 g ha−1) and soil application (9 kg Zn ha−1 and 392 kg Si ha−1) ameliorated the yield components, yield, and nutrient accumulation in rice plant tissue. Application of nano‐Zn, nano‐Si, soil‐Zn, and soil‐Si significantly increased GY by 12.6, 9.5, 9.2, and 6.9%, respectively, above the control. Application of Si and Zn through NPs had greater effects than soil form for some experimental parameters, such as fortification of rice grains. Overall, our results suggest that Si and Zn applications as NPs could increase GY, reduce fertilizer costs and environmental pollution, and enrich rice grains with Si and Zn through improving agronomic and physiological traits, leading to higher GY and nutrients accumulation in grain. Core Ideas Application of Si and Zn increased the agronomic parameters and grain yield. There was no significant interaction among Si and Zn on grain yield. The nano‐Zn foliar spray had better effects than soil‐Zn application for grain Zn accumulation.

No abstract

No abstract

Kheyri et al.: Effect of different resources and methods of silicon and zinc application on agronomic traits, nutrient uptake and grain yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of bed planting on the quantity and quality of forage yield of vetch and barley in different crop mixing ratios. The field experiment was conducted in 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 on the paddy fields of the North of Iran (Rasht, Guilan Province) as a factorial analysis in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The experimental treatments included bed planting at 2 levels (1. rice bran with bed planting and 2. without bed planting as control) and crop mixing at 6 levels (1. Sole vetch, 2. Sole barley, 3. 20% vetch to 80% of barley, 4. 40% vetch to 60% of barley, 5. 60% vetch to 40 % of barley, 6.25% vetch to75% barley as replacement ratio of crop mixing). The recorded data were the followings: forage yield, crude protein yield and quality traits like crude protein (CP), dry matter digestibility (DMD), and acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF). Mixed cropping indices were calculated by means of land equivalent ratio (LER) and Money advantages index (MAI). Results showed that rice bran with bed planting affects some quantity and quality traits of forage. Among mixing ratios, planting of 40% barley and 60% additive vetch had highest forage yield. Additive mixing ratios had the highest crude protein yield among mixing ratios. According to the results, in the North of Iran the highest LER and forage yield was obtained from rice bran with bed planting and 40% additive of vetch to barley.

No abstract