Root parameters and grain quality of lowland rice as affected by different nutrient management practices and microbial inoculants

Abstract

A field study was conducted during Kharif 2016 at the research farm of ICAR Complex for NEH Region (Umiam) Barapani, Meghalaya to find out the effect of different nutrient management practices and microbial inoculants on root parameters and grain quality of lowland rice in Eastern Himalayas. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with 12 treatment combinations and 3 replications. The main plots were consisted of 3 different nutrient management practices viz. 100% organic, 100% inorganic (RDF) and INM (75% RDF+ 25% FYM) while in the sub plot there were 4 treatments viz. control, Azospirillum, Azospirillum + PSB, Azospirillum + PSB + ZnSB. The results showed highest grain yield (4.27 t/ha) was recorded in INM followed by inorganic (4.08 t/ha) and organic (3.65 t/ha) nutrient management practice. The root growth parameters and better grain quality were observed in organic nutrient management practice followed by INM and inorganic nutrient management. Application of inorganic nutrient practice including mineral fertilizers at RDF showed the highest value of protein contents (7.86%) and this was followed by INM (7.75%) and organic (7.07%) management. The maximum concentrations of Zn in grain (18.65 ppm) were recorded with organic nutrient management practice was significantly higher over INM and inorganic treatment. The highest hulling percentage (68.68%) was recorded in inorganic followed by INM and organic treatment while highest milling (58.81%) and head rice recovery (51.06 %) was recorded in organic followed by inorganic and INM treatment.