Yield of Rice and Nutrient Availability in Soil as Influenced by Integrated Use of Fertilizers and Fish Meal

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of fish meal alone and in different combinations with mineral fertilizers on yield and status of major nutrients on a lateritic soil of Konkan. Application of 50 and 100 per cent recommended dose of fertilizers increased the grain yield of rice by 11.7 and 22.3 q ha⁻¹, respectively over no fertilizer application. Application of graded dose of fish meal viz. 1,2 and 3 t ha⁻¹ increased the grain yield by 7.5, 18.6 and 29.3 q ha_-1, respectively over no application offish meal. Integrated use of fertilizers and fish meal resulted in additive effect on rice yield. Application of fish meal helped to improve soil fertility as observed from significant increase in availability of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in soil.