Effect of silicon and phosphorus on yield and economics of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

A field experiment titled “Effect of Silicon and Phosphorus on Yield and Economics of Rice” was conducted during kharif season of 2023 at Crop Research Farm Department of Agronomy, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India. The treatments consisted of 3 levels of silicon (100, 120 and 140 kg/ha) and 3 levels of phosphorus (50, 60 and 70 kg/ha). along with recommended doses of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash as control (120-60-60 kg N-P-K/ha). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with 10 treatments and replication thrice. Application of silicon 140 kg/ha along with Phosphorus 70 kg/ha (Treatment 9) recorded significantly higher plant height (143.7 cm), number of Tillers/hill (21.09), dry weight (103.5 g), number of productive Tillers/m2 (8.83), number of filled grains/panicle (111.4), number of unfilled grains/panicle (7.83), Grain yield (4.47 t/ha), and straw yield (7.33 t/ha). The aforesaid treatment also recorded maximum gross return (INR 178800.00), net return (INR 1,10,441.00) and B:C ratio (1.62).