Evaluating the Impact of Genetic Diversity and Iron Fertilization Methods on Iron Bioavailability in Aerobic Rice Cultivation System.

Iron deficiency is a significant constraint to rice production, particularly in aerobic systems. A two-year field experiment was conducted at Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Hyderabad, India to evaluate the iron uptake of three aerobic rice cultivars (M1, M2, and M3) under twelve different iron fertilization strategies in sandy clay loam soil. The experiment laid out in a split-plot design, examined the efficacy of iron sulphate and iron chelate applied through foliar and soil applications, as well as their combinations. Iron content and uptake were measured at various growth stages (seedling, maximum tillering, panicle initiation and harvest). Results revealed significant differences in iron uptake among cultivars and fertilization treatments. Cultivar M3 (KRH 2) consistently demonstrated the highest iron uptake in both grain and straw. The most effective fertilization strategy involved the basal application of iron chelate @ 25 kg ha⁻¹ followed by three foliar sprays of iron sulphate starting from 21 days after sowing at 7-day intervals. These findings suggest that the judicious selection of rice cultivars and application of a combined soil and foliar iron fertilization strategy can significantly enhance iron uptake and potentially improve yields in aerobic rice cultivation.