Response of different duration varieties of rice (Oryza sativa) on growth, yield attributes and yield under varied levels of nutrient application

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy season (kharif) 2017 on clay soils, of the ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad, Telangana, to study the response of different duration rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties as influenced by varied levels of nutrients under irrigated ecology. The experiment comprised rice varieties of 3 different durations where under each duration there were 2 varieties, viz. short duration of 110 days (‘DRR-Dhan 44′ and ‘DRR-Dhan 46′), medium duration of 125 days (‘MTU 1010′ and ‘Vardhan’) and long duration of about 145 days (‘Sugandhamti’ and ‘Swarnadhan’) with 3 nutrient levels [50%, 100% and 150% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF)] were tested in split-plot design with 3 replications. The variety ‘Swarnadhan’ produced significantly higher number of tillers, total dry matter and leaf-area index; however, the plant height was highest with the variety ‘Sugandhamati’ but it was at par with ‘Swarnadhan’. The variety ‘Varadhan’ produced significantly higher number of grains/panicle, 1,000-grain weight, weight of the panicle and produced lower sterility percentage. Thus, it gave the highest grain yield (6.49 t/ha). The plant height, number of tillers/plant, leaf-area index and dry matter accumulation increased significantly with the application of 150% RDF (N: P₂O₅: K₂O 180: 90: 60 kg/ha) as compared to 100% or 50% RDF. The results showed, increased rate of nutrients application that increased growth and yield of improved varieties.