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The study aimed at examining the effect of Iron (Fe) management strategies on the redistribution of Fe fractions in soil and on the Fe bioavailability and phytic acid (PA) content in lentil grains. A pot experiment was conducted in Completely Randomized Design with 8 treatments replicated thrice. The treatments were Control (no fertilizer); Recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) i.e. 20:40 (N: P2O5); RDF + Fe (basal application @10 kg/ha); RDF + Fe (foliar@ 1% (w/v) solution); RDF + Fe (basal + foliar); RDF + FeSB (biopriming with Fe solubilizing bacteria (Enterobacter cloacae strain BAU3) @ 5 mL/kg seed (1 x109 cfu mL−1)); RDF + Fe (seed nutripriming with 1% (w/v) solution); and RDF + (biopriming + nutripriming). Fe source for the treatments was Fe-EDDHA chelate. Higher Fe release from these fractions was observed under biopriming + nutripriming with water soluble Fe of 21.09 and 20.82 mg kg−1, respectively for the biopriming + nutripriming and sole biopriming treatments; and organically bound Fe of 230.95 and 211.36 mg kg−1 for the same treatments. These fractions contributed toward higher Fe uptake which was highest under biopriming + nutripriming. Values were statistically significant for biopriming and nutripriming and basal + foliar treatment. Lowest PA values in lentil grains as well as PA/Fe ratio were estimated under basal + foliar and biopriming + nutripriming treatments. Combined basal and foliar application of Fe esp. in chelated form and use of seed priming strategies have immense potential in enhancing the Fe bioavailability in grains from soil, seed or foliage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lower utilization efficiency of phosphorus (P) in soils is a major setback for the agricultural sector. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of compost enriched with Rock phosphate on fractions of P in soil and how these forms affect the bioavailability of P in Rice. P fertilization was performed with the enriched compost and compared with rock phosphate and a conventional P fertilizer i.e. single superphosphate (SSP). We conducted a field experiment at Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour with Rice as the test crop in a randomized block design. Chemical P fractions were estimated through sequential fractionation and biomass production and P concentrations in plant parts were measured to estimate the plant P uptake. Yield, yield attributing parameters and P uptake in straw and grain were observed to be affected significantly by the addition of P enriched compost along with 50% recommended dose for P with the total recommended dose for N and K, when compared to absolute control. The alkaline nature of experimental soil seemingly improves the solubility of P from various fractions and the use efficiency of rice, which favors P uptake which was evidently the factors that contributed to these results. The percentage contributions of different fractions to the total P content in soil after paddy harvest were observed to be in the order: Labile-P < Fe/Al-P < Ca-P < residual P. Combined application of P enriched compost and inorganics sustained crop yield and enhanced P uptake in Rice when compared with sole application of chemical fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]