Soil Health, Nutrient Recovery and Performance of Transplanted Rice as Influenced by Efficient Nitrogen Management

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2017 at Crop Research Centre of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut (U.P.) to evaluate the Soil health, nutrient recovery and performance of transplanted rice as influenced by efficient nitrogen management. The area lies at a latitude of 29o 40‟ North and longitude of 77o 42‟ East with an elevation of 237 meters above mean sea level. The soil of the experimental field was well drained, loam in texture, alkaline in reaction (pH 8.12), low in available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and available potassium with an electrical conductivity of 0.23 dS m 1. Nine treatments comprising control (No N), 120 (RDN) N through urea at basal, maximum tillering and panicle initiation, respectively or 50:25:25 N, 50:50:00 N through urea at basal, maximum tillering and panicle initiation, respectively, 25:25:50 N through urea at basal, maximum tillering and panicle initiation, respectively, 75:12.5:12.5 N through urea at basal, maximum tillering and panicle initiation, respectively, 50% N, through urea at basal, and rest through LCC, 33% N through urea at basal, rest through LCC, 50% N through urea at basal, rest through SPAD, and 33% N through urea at basal, rest through SPAD, replicated thrice estimated in a randomized block design. The data on growth, yield and its contributing traits were calculated on plot area basis (20 m2), whereas content and uptake of nutrients at various stages along with available N, P and K as well as availability at surface, sub surface was recorded as per the standard procedure. The experimental results revealed that growth attributes (plant height, number of tillers and dry matter accumulation), yield attributing traits (grains panicle-1and test weight), yields viz., grain, straw and biological, content and uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and NUE (Agronomic Efficiency and Apparent Nutrient Recovery) in rice differ significantly among different treatments and were maximum with the application of 50% N, through urea at basal, and rest through LCC. Application of 50% N Through urea at basal, and rest through SPAD improved the organic carbon of soil. Therefore application of 50% N as basal, 25% at maximum tillering and 25% panicle initiation stage, proved to be better for achieving higher yield and maintaining the nutrient status of soil.