crops, consequently leading to nutrient deficiencies in humans. Adding iron to rice enhances both its elemental
composition and the nutritional value it offers humans through the food chain. The purpose of the current
pot experiment was to investigate the impact of Fe treatment in alkaline (pH 7.5) and acidic (pH 5.5) soils to
introduce iron-rich rice. Iron was applied to the plants in the soil in the form of an aqueous solution of FeSO4
with five different concentrations (100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 mM). The results obtained from the current study
demonstrated a significant increase in Fe content in Oryza sativa with the application of iron in both alkaline and
acidic pH soils. Specifically, Basmati-515, one of the rice cultivars tested, exhibited a notable 13% increase in iron
total accumulation per plant and an 11% increase in root-to-shoot ratio in acidic soil. In contrast to Basmati-198,
which demonstrated maximum response in alkaline soil, Basmati-515 exhibited notable increases in all parameters,
including a 31% increase in dry weight, 16% increase in total chlorophyll content, an 11% increase in CAT
(catalase) activity, 7% increase in APX (ascorbate peroxidase) activity, 26% increase in POD (peroxidase) activity,
and a remarkable 92% increase in SOD (superoxide dismutase) in acidic soil. In alkaline soil, Basmati-198 exhibited
respective decreases of 40% and 39% in MDA and H2O2 content, whereas Basmati-515 demonstrated a more
significant decrease of 50% and 67% in MDA and H2O2 in acidic soil. These results emphasize the potential for
targeted soil management strategies to improve iron nutrition and address iron deficiency in agricultural systems.
By considering soil conditions, it is possible to enhance iron content and promote its availability in alkaline and
acidic soils, ultimately contributing to improved crop nutrition and human health. |
