Effect of nitrogen and sulphur levels on growth and productivity of scented rice (Oryza sativa)

Afield experiment was conducted duringkharif season of2003 at the Research Farm of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi tostudythe effect ofnitrogen andsulphur levels on growth parameters and productivity of scented rice. The experiment was carried out with 16 treatments combinations of 4 N levels (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha⁻¹) and 4 S levels (0, 20. 40 and 60 kg ha⁻¹) in factorial randomized block designreplicated thrice. Growth parameters, viz. plantheight, number of tillers hill⁻¹, dry matter accumulation in different parts of the plant (root, stem, leaf, panicle)andleaf area index (LAI) increased significantly with successive increase in N levels. However, S application did not influence significantly these growthparameters atvariouscrop growth stages except number of tillers hill⁻¹ at harvest, dry matter accumulation in root, stem and leaf at 60 days after transplanting (DAT) and panicle dry matter accumulationat 90DAT. Rough rice grain, straw and biological yields increased significantly with increase in N and S levels. The increase in grain yield due to application of 100 and 150 kg N ha⁻¹ over control was 1.99 t and 1.95 t ha⁻¹ and in terms of percentages increase was 49.5 and 48.5, respectively. The percentage increases in the rough grain yield of rice at application of 20, 40 and 60 kg S ha⁻¹ over control was in the order of 6.5, 7.3 and 8.8, respectively.