Effect of irrigation schedules and nitrogen levels on direct seeded scented basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.)

A study was carried out during Kharif 2011 and 2012 to evaluate the effect of three irrigation schedules (30, 50 and 70 mm CPE), three nitrogen levels (40, 60 and 80 kg N ha⁻¹) and two modules of nitrogen splits (3 splits i.e. 3, 6 and 9 weeks after sowing and 4 splits i.e. 0, 3, 6 and 9 weeks after sowing) on the yield and nutrient uptake of direct seeded basmati rice cv Pusa Basmati 1121 on a loamy sand soil at the Research Farm of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with 4 replications. The results revealed that the maximum uptake of N, P and K by the grains and straw was obtained with irrigations at 30 mm CPE and they were significantly better than 50 and 70 mm CPE. Among nitrogen levels, the significant increase in nutrients uptake by grain and straw was recorded with each increment of nitrogen up to 60 kg ha⁻¹ but further addition of 20 kg of N ie. 80 kg ha⁻¹ did not affect the uptake significantly. Application of nitrogen in 3 or 4 splits failed to have any significant impact on yield and N, P and K uptake by the direct seeded basmati rice. It could also be inferred from the study that N application at sowing time can be skipped because it may not be immediately used by the emerging seedlings.