Performance of rice establishment methods and nutrient management practices on growth, yield and nutrient uptake of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif seasons of 2018 and 2019 at Rice Research Farm of Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand to evaluate the performance of rice establishment methods and nutrient management practices on growth, yield attributes, yield and total nutrient uptake of rice. The wet direct seeding of rice using drum seeder manifested higher number of total tillers/m²(267), leaf area index (3.58), dry matter accumulation (1292.20 g/m²), crop growth rate (8.53g/m²/day), panicles/m² (251), panicle weight (3.38g), total grains/panicle (117), grain yield (42.19 q/ha), straw yield (65.22 q/ha) and nutrient uptake of nitrogen (96.13 kg/ha), phosphorus (16.47 kg/ha) and potassium (95.42 kg/ha) which were comparable with normal transplanting but establishes its distinct superiority over aerobic rice. Among the different nutrient management practices, RDF + 25% N through FYM produced maximum growth, yield attributes, yield and nutrient uptake which was comparable with LCC based N application. However, both of the nutrient management practices viz. RDF + 25% N through FYM and LCC based N application led to significantly higher total tillers² leaf area index, dry matter accumulation, crop growth rate, panicle/m², panicle weight, total grains/panicle, grain yield, straw yield, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium uptake than other nutrient management practices viz RDF and 75% RDF + 25% N through FYM and control.