70(4)2025 Influence of Nutrient Management on Growth and Yield Performance of Basmati Rice Cultivars in the Indo-Gangetic Plains

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the Kharif seasons of 2020 and 2021 at the research farm of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Modipuram, Uttar Pradesh, to assess the performance of Basmati rice cultivars under various nutrient management strategies. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three Basmati cultivars Pusa Basmati-1121, Pusa Basmati-1509, and Pusa Basmati-1718 in the main plots and five nutrient treatments (Control, 100% Inorganic, Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), 100% Organic, and Jeevamrit (5%)) in subplots, replicated thrice. Results revealed that Pusa Basmati-1121 consistently outperformed other varieties in plant height, effective tillers, dry matter accumulation, and yield-attributing traits. INM (50% organic + 50% inorganic) significantly enhanced vegetative and reproductive parameters, resulting in the highest grain yield (39.55 q ha⁻¹), panicle length (27.39 cm), filled grains per panicle (101.32), and harvest index (41.29%). In contrast, the Control and Jeevamrit treatments recorded comparatively lower values, though Jeevamrit showed moderate fertility ratio and yield traits. The synergistic effect of INM supports balanced nutrient uptake, efficient biomass partitioning, and better grain development. The study concludes that the combination of high-yielding varieties viz. Pusa Basmati-1121with INM offers a sustainable and productive strategy for Basmati rice cultivation in the Indo-Gangetic Plains.