Foliar spray of amino acids and potassic fertilizer improves the nutritional quality of rice

Abstract

Abstract The effect of amino acid (AA) fertilizers on the quality and nutritional value of rice have rarely been studied. A field trial to determine the effect of foliar application of amino acids (AA) and potassium (K) on mineral nutrients (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Ca and Mg), the contents of protein, amylose and amino acids (non-essential and essential) of two rice varieties (Tarom mahali and Neda), comprising of four treatments (control, AA, K and AA\u2009+\u2009K) using randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted at the Rice Research Institute of Iran (Amol). The two years data during 2018 and 2019 showed that the foliar spray of AA and AA\u2009+\u2009K improved the concentrations of mineral nutrients, protein and amylose contents of brown and milled rice in both rice varieties compared to the control treatment. The foliar application of AA\u2009+\u2009K also significantly increased the contents of essential and non-essential amino acids of brown and milled rice in both rice varieties. In all similar treatments, the concentrations of element nutrients and the contents of protein, amylose, and amino acids of T. mahali variety were higher than Neda. Therefore, it can be concluded that the combined spray of AA and K can be a suitable practice for improving the quality of rice.