Time of application of fresh cow dung on productivity of scented rice and its residual effect on linseed

Field experiments were conducted in the organic block of Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat (Assam) during 2012–13 under rainfed condition to evaluate the effects of different timings of fresh cow dung application on the productivity of scented rice and its residual effect on succeeding linseed crop. The results revealed that all the timings of fresh cow dung application significantly increased grain and straw yields of scented rice over the control. Among different timings, application of fresh cow dung as 5 t/ha at planting + 2.5 t/ha each at 30 and 45 days after planting (DAP) recorded the highest grain and straw yields but did not differ significantly with the application as 3.4 t/ha + 3.3 t/ha + 3.3 t/ha at 15, 30 and 45 DAP in case of grain yield and with 2.5t/ha each at 7, 15, 30 and 45 DAP in case of straw yield. The residual effect of fresh cow dung on succeeding linseed crop was similar with that of scented rice, however, fresh cow dung applied in four splits as 2.5 t/ha each at 7, 15, 30 and 45 DAP in scented rice produced the highest seed and stover yields of linseed. The trend of available nutrient contents in soil after harvest of both the crops was almost similar with that of the yield of rice and linseed.