Zinc Nutrition in Rice Based Cropping Systems: A Comprehensive Review

Rice-based cropping systems being the most practiced cropping system in India, it suffers zinc deficiency as majority of the Indian soils are deficient in the Zn micronutrient. Zn is considered the fourth most important yield limiting nutrient of Agricultural crops. Apart from plant nutrition Zn also plays crucial role in human nutrition. Zn plays a vital role in the physiological function of plants and it is associated with phytohormone activity, protein synthesis and carbohydrate metabolism. To understand better zinc nutrition and its associated benefits from optimum nutrition and ways to manage Zn in rice-based cropping systems, the present review critically examines nutrient mobilization and transformation of Zn in rice-based cropping systems of India.