5- pakistan agricultural research council（5 -巴基斯坦农业研究理事会）（26页）.docVIP

NATURAL RESOURCES Boron Use in Rice Improves Yield and Cooking Quality Introduction Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is grown on 2.3 Mha alluvial, calcareous, low organic matter soils, with an average paddy yield of 2.00 t ha-1. One major cause of low rice productivity – compared with much higher potential yields – remains imbalanced nutrient management. In the literature, rice is categorized as tolerant to boron (B) deficiency. However, in consideration of widespread B deficiency observed in many other crops in the country, NARC soil scientists suspected B deficiency to be amongst the causes of low rice yields, and, therefore, undertook field and laboratory research to investigate the hypothesis. Technology Development, Demonstration and Recommendation During 2001-2004, multi-location field research in major rice growing areas of the Punjab has led to the theoretically-unexpected identification and establishment of widespread and severe incidence of B deficiency in rice cvs. Super Basmati, Basmati-385 and KSK-282. Concurrent, extensive field research in Sindh revealed that B deficiency is an equally serious problem in rice cv. IR-6. Fertilizer B use (@ 0.75 kg B ha-1) resulted in substantial yield increases (i.e., 15–25% over yields obtained with N, P, and Zn use), coupled with appreciable improvements in grain/cooking quality (i.e., more recovery and less breakage of kernels during milling; greater grain elongation, less bursting and less stickiness upon cooking). Boron use in rice is highly profitable, as Rs. 1.00 spent on B results in paddy yield increases worth Rs. 40.00. Preliminary results of this research were appreciated by International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) by conferring the 2004 IRRN Best Article Award in the area of Soil and Nutrient Management upon the lead soil scientist of NARC. The technology has been extensively field demonstrated in Punjab (in collaboration with Adaptive Research) and Sindh (with Engro Chemical Pakistan Ltd.) – with affirmativ