Indian Journal of Agronomy

A field experiment was conducted in a split-plot design during the rainy (kharif) seasons of 2015 and 2016 at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, to evaluate the relative performance of different fertility levels (60%, 80% and 100% of recommended dose of fertilizer) and foliar spray of cow urine (control, 50%, 75% and 100% concentration) on growth, yield and economics of ‘BPT 5204’ rice (Oryza sativa L.). The recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) for rice was 120, 60, 60 and 25 kg/ha of N, P₂O₅, K₂O and ZnSO₄ respectively. Various growth parameters and yield levels of rice showed significant variation during the experimental years under different levels of fertility and cow urine foliar spray. Among the fertility levels, 80% and 100% RDF significantly improved grain yields of rice over 60% RDF by 6.8% and 14.8% respectively. Applications of cow urine (4 foliar sprays) were positively correlated with various growth parameters, yield attributes and yield levels of rice. Increments in grain yields of rice were to the tune of 4.4%, 4.4% and 10% over control for 50%, 75% and 100% cow urine concentration respectively. In terms of economics, the highest net returns and benefit: cost ratios were obtained from 100% RDF and 100% cow urine spray during both the years. Among the fertilizer treatments, 100% RDF recorded up to 18.2% higher net returns over 60% RDF, which was 16.4% over the control in case of 100% cow urine spray.