direct seeded rice iron chlorosis ferrous sulphate spray aerobic
How do I manage iron deficiency in DSR paddy on light soil?
SSatpal9mo ago · 290 views
7 Answers
🌾Farmer.in Krishi TeamExpert ✓9mo ago
Iron deficiency is common in DSR and aerobic rice on light, sandy or high pH soils, showing as yellowing between the veins of the youngest leaves while older leaves stay green. The fix is foliar spray of ferrous sulphate around 0.5 to 1 percent (about 5 to 10 g per litre), often with a little citric acid, repeated 2 to 3 times at weekly intervals once symptoms appear. Soil application of iron is usually not effective because it gets fixed quickly in such soils, so rely on sprays. Keeping the surface moist and avoiding long dry spells in DSR also reduces the problem. Choose DSR on loam rather than very sandy fields, and confirm with a soil test where possible.
JJoginder8mo ago
My first DSR year the new leaves went pale yellow on sandy patches. Two ferrous sulphate sprays greened it up.
GGurpreet Singh8mo ago
In Punjab I add a little citric acid to the ferrous sulphate spray as my KVK advised, and it works better than the plain salt which sometimes left brown spots on leaves. Spraying in the cooler evening also avoided leaf scorch.
MMahabir7mo ago
One caution from my fields: the yellowing came back fastest where I let the soil go bone dry between irrigations. Keeping the top moist after the spray held the green much longer, so manage water along with the spray.
DDineshbhai Patel7mo ago
In Gujarat my aerobic rice on a limey patch yellowed badly, and my Soil Health Card already showed high pH and low iron there. Knowing the plot was prone, I kept the ferrous sulphate ready and sprayed at the first sign instead of waiting.
RRamesh Patidar6mo ago
One more tip from Madhya Pradesh: I spray only the new top leaves where the yellowing shows, not the whole crop, which saved solution and still worked. Fresh-mixed spray each time also worked better than a day-old mix for me.
HHanuman Prasad6mo ago
A caution from my side in Rajasthan: do not raise the ferrous sulphate strength too high hoping for a faster fix, because a strong dose scorched my leaf tips. Sticking to the milder repeated sprays was safer and the crop recovered steadily.