EFFECT OF LOW-TEMPERATURE OF IRRIGATION WATER ON RICE GROWTH AND NUTRIENT-UPTAKE

The study was designed to investigate the effect of cold irrigation wa ter on rice growth and on uptake of N, P, K and Zn applied ca. 50, 20, 35 and 5 mg kg-1 soil, respectively. Cold temperature of irrigation w ater reduced rice shoot and root dry weight and plant height, signific antly compared to hot temperature treatment. Under low temperature str ess N was a major rice growth determinant. Increased shoot concentrati ons of both P and Zn allevated the low temperature stress. The uptake of N, P, K and Zn reduced significantly at low temperature (16.5-20-de grees-C soil and 20-24-degrees-C flood water) compared to high tempera ture (24.5-27-degrees-C soil and 26.5-29.0-degrees-C), with the strong est effect being noticed for N, followed by P, K and Zn. Application o f N, P, K and Zn increased their uptake in rice shoots. Nitrogen and K had synergistic effect on their uptake. Responses to N and K applicat ion and their uptake behavior were well marked at higher than at low t emperature whereas reverse was true for P and Zn.