Effect of Different Fertility levels on Nutrients Availability, Growth and Yield of Rice in Puddled and Unpuddled Conditions

Abstract

To study the "effect of different fertility levels on nutrients availability, growth and yield of rice in puddled and unpuddled conditions" on experimental was conducted during kharif 2013 at crop research centre of university. The soil of experimental plot was sandy clay loam in texture, low in organic carbon and available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and high in available potassium. The soil was alkaline in reaction without salinity problem. Twelve different treatments consisting application of different nutrient levels in puddled and unpuddled conditions of rice were tested in ~D with three replications. Pusa Basmati-! was grown as test crop by adopting all the recommended agronomic practices expect fertilizer application. Treatment effects were monitor in terms of growth parameters, yield attributing characters, nutrient content, uptake and available nutrients in soil after the harvest of rice crop. Results reveal that growth parameters improved significantly with additional application of 25% NPK or N over recommended NPK. The effect of puddling at higher fertility level was also noticed. Yield attributing characters also improved with the application of additional NPK or N over recommended NPK. Significantly higher rice grain yield than the rest of the treatments was found with the application of additional 25% N in puddled condition. Application of higher level of nitrogen in unpuddled condition did not resulted any significant effect. Grain yield of rice reduced by 18.1 and 21.7 % in puddled and unpuddled condition due to NPK skipping. About 6 to 12% yield increase was noted due to puddling. Nutrients content and uptake were also found higher or significantly higher in the treatment consisting application of 125% NPK in puddled condition. Availability of nitrogen and potassium in soil decline from their initial value while an increase was noticed in case of available phosphors, zinc and iron. pH and bulk density decline from their initial value while a build up was found in case of electrical conductivity and organic carbon content.