Abstract

                                A field experiment was conducted on soil application of different levels of copper (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 kg Cu ha-1) and foliar application (0.25% CuSO4 at tillering stage, 0.25% CuSO4 at tillering and flowering stage, 0.5% CuSO4 at tillering stage and 0.5% CuSO4 at tillering and flowering stage) to test the response of rice plants grown in a copper-responsive in Typic Haplustalfs of Tamil Nadu. The treatment plots were replicated three times in a randomized block design. The growth attributes like plant height, tillering, and dry matter yield enhanced with increasing Cu levels and was maximum at 1.5 mg kg-1 Cu. The grain yield at 1.5 mg kg-1 Cu was enhanced by 62.9% from the control. The outcomes uncovered that the Cu concentrations in leaves, grain, and straw enhanced with increasing levels of Cu application. Application of low Copper application (0.5 to 1.5 kg Cu ha-1) significantly increased the macro (total N, P, K) and micro nutrient (Fe, Mn, Zn) content in leaves, grain, and straw of rice, however, higher concentrations (2.0 to 3.0 kg Cu ha-1) drastically reduced the nutrient content of rice

Key words : Rice; Copper; Total nutrients; Leaves; Grains; Straw; Growth; Grain and Straw yield