Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Growth, Physiological, Nutrient Uptake, Root and Yield Parameters of Transplanted Lowland Rice

Rice is an important cultivated food crop which feeds more than half of the world's population. Even though the area under rice cultivation is large, the productivity is low due to various interaction factors. The imbalance in usage of fertilizers is one of the main factors responsible for the low productivity and also the continuous use of inorganic fertilizers resulted in declining of soil fertility. An integrated nutrient management practices may be necessary to maintain the sustainability in crop production. Field experiment was conducted at wetland farm of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during kharif season to study the effect of integrated nutrient management practices on growth, physiological, nutrient uptake, root characters and yield parameters of transplanted lowland rice. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications and nine treatments. Rice CO(R) 48 was used as a test variety. Dhaincha, vermicompost, farmyard manure were incorporated before transplanting of rice as per treatment schedule. The results revealed growth parameters (Plant height and number of tillers hill-1), physiological parameters (leaf area index and crop growth rate), nutrient uptake (N, P and K uptake), root characters (root length, root volume and root dry weight) and yield parameters (Number of productive tillers m-2 and Dry Matter Production) were significantly influenced with application of 100 % NPK through inorganic fertilizers + 6.25 t dhaincha which was comparable with 100 per cent NPK through inorganic fertilizers + 5 t vermicompost and 100 per cent NPK through inorganic fertilizers + 12.5t farmyard manure. This was followed by 100 per cent N through dhaincha + balance P & K through inorganic fertilizers.