Disease Name: Khaira disease of rice. Causal agent: This disease occurs due to zinc deficiency. It is a non-parasitic and non-infectious disease .
History: First diagnosed in rice ( Oryza sativa ) on calcareous soils of Tarai region of Uttar Pradesh of India (Nene, 1966). Widespread phenomenon in lowland rice growing areas of Asia, next to nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) deficiency. Yield loss may upto 25%.
Distribution: Neutral and calcareous soils. Intensively cropped soils. Poorly drained soils. Coarse textured soils. Soils with high available Phosphorus (P) and Silicon (Si) status. Soils with a small concentration of Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg) and Calcium (Ca).
Role of zinc in plants: Zinc is an essential plant nutrient required for several biochemical processes in the rice plant, including chlorophyll production and membrane integrity. Zn deficiencies affect plant color and turgor . Zn is only slightly mobile in the plant and quite immobile in soil.
Favorable conditions: Small amount of available Zn in the soil. Plants varieties are susceptible to Zn deficiency (i.e., Zn-inefficient cultivars). Zn is precipitated as sparingly soluble Zn(OH) 2 when pH increases in soil. Depressed Zn uptake because of an increase in Fe, Ca, Mg, Cu, Mn and P contents in soil after flooding.
Formation of Zn-phosphates when large applications of phosphatic fertilizer. Formation of complexes between Zn and organic matter in soils because of large applications of organic manures and crop residues. High magnesium (Mg) to Calcium (Ca) ratio.
Symptoms: Symptoms appear both in nursery and in mainfield between two to four weeks after transplanting. Dusty brown spots on upper leaves of stunted plants. Uneven plant growth. Patches of poorly established hills in the field.
Increased spikelet sterility in rice. Chlorotic midribs, particularly near the leaf base of younger leaves. Leaf blade size is reduced.
Symptoms: TNAU Agritech Portel
Field view:
TNAU Agritech Portel
Management: Grow Zn-efficient varieties. Use fertilizers that generate acidity (e.g., replace some urea with ammonium sulphate). Apply organic manure before seeding in nursery or transplanting of rice in mainfield . Monitor irrigation water quality.
Broadcast ZnSo 4 in nursery seedbed 5 days before pulling out of seedlings. Dip seedlings or presoak seeds in a 2−4% ZnO suspension. Zinc sulphate 25-30 kg/ha as soil application at the time of puddling . Mix 5 kg ZnSo 4 + 2.5 kg slaked lime + 1000 liters water and sprayed it on 10 and 20 days after sowing in nursery.