Nitrogen use efficiency of high zinc rice genotypes in vertisols under varying levels of fertility

Abstract

Nitrogen is one of the most important mineral nutrients required for intensive crop production and the enhancement of nutrient use efficiency (NUE) is an important economic and global goal. Rice crop is very important not only because it is the most staple food in the world but also because of its lowest Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE) among the cereals. A field experiment was conducted at research cum instructional farm, IGKV, Raipur. The overall objective of present study was to identify the Nitrogen Use Efficiency of high zinc containing rice genotypes in Vertisols of Chhattisgarh during kharif season of 2013. The experiment was carried out in split-plot design with three replications having four fertility levels in main plots and twelve varieties in sub plots. Nitrogen use efficiencies of different rice genotype ranged from 22.30 to 49.40 per cent with overall average value of 38.70 per cent. The highest NUE was recorded by R-1033-968-1(ABL) that yielded maximum grain produce. Low fertility level exhibited higher efficiency than that of medium and high fertility level.