Rice productivity and soil fertility as influenced by nutrient management in rice (Oryza sativa)wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy ( khar i f) seasons of 2010 and 2011 at Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, to evaluate the effect of nutrient management on rice ( Oryza sativa L.) productivity, nutrient uptake and soil fertility under longterm ricewheat ( Triticum aestivum (L.) emend Fiori & Paol] cropping system. Twelve treatments, viz. control, N , N P , N K , P K , N P K , N P K + Znf (@ 0.5%), N P K + FYM (@ 120 120 40 120 40 40 40 120 40 40 120 40 40 120 40 40 5 tonnes/ha), N P K + Znf + FYM, N P + Znf, N P K + Znf and N P K + Znf + FYM, were maintained 120 40 40 180 80 180 80 40 180 80 40 in a fixed layout right from the beginning of the experiment (1984-85) in a randomized block design with 4 replica- tions. Combined application of NPK, FYM and Zn (N P K + Znf + FYM) significantly increased the grain yield 120 40 40 (6.22 tonnes/ha) of rice over all the other treatments except N P K + FYM (6.20 tonnes/ha) and N P K + 120 40 40 180 80 40 Znf + FYM (6.19 tonnes/ha). The treatment N P K + Znf + FYM recorded the highest soil available nitrogen 180 80 40 and phosphorus (229.5 kg/ha and 25.1 kg/ha), which was significantly at par with N P K + FYM (225.3 kg/ha 120 40 40 and 24.6 kg/ha) and N P K + Znf + FYM (223.9 kg/ha and 24.8 kg/ha). The available soil potassium content 120 40 40 was low to medium in range (183.1220.0 kg/ha). The FYM application improved the rice yield and sustained soil fertility. Soil organic matter content reported in 1984 (2.1 %) was found maintained in FYM containing treatments (2.152.17%), while declining with inorganic treatments. The uptake of N, P and K was found to be associated with production of total dry matter resulted by the addition of NPK fertilizer and FYM application.