Effect of nutrient management in transplanted rice (Oryza sativa L.)

A field investigation entitled “Effect of Nutrient Management in Transplanted Rice (Oryza sativa L.)” was carried out during the Kharif season of 2024 at the Instructional Farm, Barrister Thakur Chhedilal College of Agriculture and Research Station, Sarkanda, Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh). The study aimed to assess the impact of integrated nutrient management strategies involving soil-applied fertilizers and foliar sprays on the growth, yield, nutrient uptake, and economic returns of transplanted rice. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with seven nutrient management treatments: T₁ - Control (no fertilizer), T₂ - 100% Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (RDF) (100:60:40 kg NPK/ha), T₃ - 100% RDF + foliar spray of NPK (19:19:19) once at 50 days after transplanting (DAT), T₄ - 75% RDF + foliar spray once at 50 DAT, T₅ - 75% RDF + foliar spray twice at 25 and 75 DAT, T₆ - 75% RDF + foliar spray thrice at 25, 50, and 75 DAT, and T₇ - foliar spray thrice at 25, 50, and 75 DAT. The rice variety Indira Barani Dhan-1, a mid-duration cultivar, was used in this study. Results revealed that T₆ (75% RDF + NPK foliar spray thrice at 25, 50 and 75 DAT) showed significantly enhanced growth parameters (plant height, number of effective tillers, dry matter accumulation, crop growth rate and relative growth rate), yield attributes (number of panicles, panicle length and number of grains per panicle), grain yield and straw yield, harvest index and economic returns (cost of cultivation, gross returns, net returns and B: C ratio). The highest grain yield (45.87 q ha^-1) and straw yield (54.84 q ha^-1) were recorded in T₆ (75% RDF + NPK foliar spray thrice at 25, 50 and 75 DAT). Additionally, T₆ achieved the highest gross return (₹ 1,46,901.21 ha^-1), net return (₹ 1,03,978.68 ha^-1), and benefit-cost ratio (2.42). Nutrient uptake in grain and straw was also significantly improved with integrated nutrient management. Post-harvest soil analysis indicated no adverse impact on soil pH, EC, or organic carbon. The study concludes that a combination of 75% RDF and timely foliar applications of NPK is a resource-efficient and sustainable strategy to enhance transplanted rice productivity and profitability in rainfed agro-ecosystems.