Effect of organic nutrient management on yield, nutrient uptake and nutrient balance sheet in scented rice (Oryza sativa)

A field experiment was conducted at Ranchi during kharif seasons of 2004 and 2005, to identify suitable organic nutrient management in scented rice for higher productivity, nutrient utilization and soil health. Scented rice (Birsamati) grown with recommended inorganic fertilizer produced 20.09% higher grain yield when compared with the best organic source combination of green manuring (GM) @ 5 t/ha + FYM @ 10 t/ha (3.3 t/ha). The yield attributing characters also followed the trend of grain yield. Similarly, the uptake of N, P and K by rice grown with fertilizers was 31.69%, 25.98%, and 23.74% higher than GM + FYM. The maximum available N (277 kg/ha) and minimum N loss (3 kg/ha) was recorded from the plots that received GM 5 t/ha + BGA 10 kg/ha + Azotobacter @ 500 g/ha. Similarly maximum available P (24.7 kg/ha) and maximum gain in soil P (0.7 kg/ha), was recorded with the application of Karanj cake (KC) 2.5 t/ha. However, maximum available K (202 kg/ha) and maximum gain in soil K (2.0 kg/ha) was recorded from the plot receiving GM 5 t/ha + PS 10 t/ha. Among organic sources, GM + FYM fetched significantly higher net return (35, 975 Rs/ha) and B: C (2.61) when compared with rest of the organic sources under test.