Effect of Planting Techniques and Nitrogen Scheduling on Scented Wet Rice, Water Productivity and Soil Health in Inceptisol

Abstract

A field experiment entitled “Effect of planting techniques and nitrogen scheduling on scented wet rice, water productivity and soil health in Inceptisol” was carried out at Crop Research Centre of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut (U.P.) India, during kharif season of 2019 and 2020. Experiment was laid out in split plot design using planting techniques as main plot and nitrogen scheduling as sub plot factor. Main factors consist of four planting techniques viz. Furrow Irrigated Raised Bed System (FIRBs), Reduced Tillage Transplanted Rice (RT-TPR), Unpuddled Transplanted Rice (UTR) and Conventional Transplanted Rice (CTR), the sub factors consist of six nitrogen scheduling variables viz., Control, 100% RDN (50% B + 25% AT + 25% PI), 100% RDN (40% B + 35% AT + 25% PI), 120% RDN (50% B + 25% AT + 25% PI), 120% RDN (40% B + 35% AT + 25% PI) and Real Time N Management through LCC. Soil of experimental field was sandy loam in texture, medium in available nitrogen, low in available phosphorus and medium in available potassium with low organic carbon content. Basmati rice variety PB-1509 was transplanted on 26th July, 2019 and 20th July, 2020 and harvested on 23rd October, 2019 and 10th October, 2020 during first year and second year, respectively. Results revealed that among planting techniques, the maximum values of growth and developmental parameters, yield attributes and yield were recorded under CTR followed by FIRBs. Among nitrogen scheduling, maximum growth and developmental parameters, yield and yield attributes were recorded with real time nitrogen management through LCC and minimum were recorded in control treatment. Highest water productivity with lowest water footprints were recorded under FIRBs with real time nitrogen management through LCC. Highest nitrogen use efficiency was recorded under FIRBs with real time nitrogen management through LCC. Highest brown rice and head rice recovery per cent was obtained with CTR followed by FIRBs during both the years of study. Among nitrogen scheduling practices the highest NPK uptake was obtained with real time N management through LCC which was statistically at par with 120% RDN (50% B + 25% AT + 25% PI) and 100% RDN (50% B + 25% AT + 25% PI), lowest nutrient uptake was obtained in control treatment during both the years of study. Highest net return and B:C ratio was recorded under furrow irrigated raised beds transplanted rice, among nitrogen scheduling, Highest net return and B:C ratio was calculated with real time nitrogen management through LCC. Basmati rice crop gave the higher yield under CTR but the net return was associated with FIRBs. Therefore, it may be concluded that transplanting of rice on FIRBs with real time nitrogen management through LCC might be a better option to get higher productivity and profitability of basmati rice.