Effect of biofertilizer and organic manure on the growth and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

The field experiment was carried out during the kharif season of 2024 at the crop research farm of the Department of Agronomy, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj (U.P.), India. The experiment was entitled “Effect of Biofertilizer and Organic Manure on the Growth and Yield of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)”. It was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) consisting of nine treatments replicated thrice, viz., T1: Azotobacter 6 kg/ha with FYM 12 t/ha, T2: Azotobacter 6 kg/ha with vermicompost (VC) 5 t/ha, T3: Azotobacter with poultry manure (PM) 4 t/ha, T4: Azolla 500 kg/ha with FYM 12 t/ha, T5: Azolla 500 kg/ha with VC 5 t/ha, T6: Azolla 500 kg/ha with PM 4 t/ha, T7: Azotobacter 3 kg/ha with Azolla 500 kg/ha and FYM 12 t/ha, T8: Azotobacter 6 kg/ha with Azolla 500 kg/ha and VC 5 t/ha, and T9: Azotobacter 6 kg/ha with Azolla 500 kg/ha and PM 4 t/ha. The results of the experiment showed that growth parameters such as plant height (58.52 cm), number of tillers per plant (11.94), and plant dry weight (42.44 g) were significantly increased with higher levels of Azotobacter, Azolla, and PM, with the maximum observed under the application of Azotobacter 6 kg/ha, Azolla 500 kg/ha, and PM 5 t/ha. Significantly highest number of effective tillers per m² (421.67), number of grains per panicle (187.27), grain yield (3.49 t/ha), and straw yield (6.92 t/ha) were also recorded under this treatment. Additionally, gross return (INR 2,86,447.00/ha), net return (INR 1,89,647.50/ha), and benefit: cost ratio (2.40) were highest with the application of Azotobacter 6 kg/ha, Azolla 500 kg/ha, and PM 5 t/ha.