Growth, productivity and profitability of direct seeded rice (Oryza sativa) as influenced by integrated nutrient management

Abstract

A field experiment on direct seeded rice was conducted during Kharif 2017 and 2018 at Rice Research Farm, Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke, Ranchi to evaluate the effect of integrated nutrient management in direct seeded rice (Oryza Sativa). The soil was clay loam in texture, acidic in nature with mean pH 5.97, mean EC 0.30, low in available N (mean value 223.81 kg/ha), medium in P (mean value 23.35 kg/ha) & K (mean value 169.44 kg/ha) and low in organic carbon (mean value 0.39%). The experiment comprised ten treatments viz. control (no fertilizer or manure), 50% RDF, 75% RDF, 100% RDF, 50% RDF +50% N through FYM, 50% RDF + 50% N through vermi compost, 75% RDF +25% N through FYM, 75% RDF+25% N through vermin-compost, 100% RDF +25% N through FYM and 100% RDF +25% N through vermin-compost were laid out in randomized block design with three replications. Pooled data of two years experimentation indicated that the application of various integrated nutrient management practices significantly increased growth parameters (plant height, Leaf area index and total tillers/m2) and yield attributes viz. no. of panicles/ square meter, no. of grains/ panicle and 1000- grain weight. Yield and monetary income of rice crop were significantly influenced by application of integrated nutrient management practices. Among all treatments, application of 100% RDF + 25% N through vermin-compost resulted in higher no. of effective tillers/m2 (276.33), the maximum grain yield (43.90 t/ha) and net return (`48946/ha) but B:C ratio (2.60) is less than 75% RDF + 25% N through vermin-compost (2.63) which was superior to rest of the treatments. Two year study indicates that the application of 75% RDF + 25% N through vermin- compost was the best for higher yield and monetary benefit from rice.