Influence of fertilizer levels and bio-stimulants application on growth and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under lateritic soils of Konkan region

Abstract

The field trial was carried out to study the effect of different fertilizer levels and bio-stimulants on growth and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under lateritic soils of Konkan at the Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Dapoli during Kharif 2022. The experiment was laid out in strip plot design with 15 treatment combinations replicated thrice. The treatments consist of three horizontal strips of fertilizer levels viz., 80% RDF (F1), 100% RDF (F2), 120% RDF (F3) and five vertical strips of bio-stimulants viz., 0.5% humic acid (B1), 0.5% chitosan (B2), 3% vermiwash (B3), 1% Konkan kalp (B4), 0.1% triacontanol (B5). Results revealed that the application of 120% RDF significantly increased the growth, yield attributes and yield of rice which was superior over rest of the treatments. Among the bio-stimulants, foliar application of 0.5% humic acid recorded significantly higher values of growth, yield attributes and yield of rice and it remained at par with the treatment 0.5% chitosan. Interaction of 120% RDF along with foliar sprays of 0.5% humic acid recorded significantly higher grain and straw yield over rest of the treatment combinations.