Effect Of nutrient management on yield and nutrient response of hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L.)

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif 2001,2002 and 2003 on sandy loam soils of Jammu to study the effect of nutrient management on yield and nutrient response of hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L.). Hybrid rice variety KHR-2 significantly out yielded the local check Jaya variety with an average increase of 32.84 per cent during three years study. On the basis of three years mean, application of 150 kg N + 80 kg P₂O₅ + 60 kg K₂O recorded maximum mean grain yield of 6.26 t/ha which was however, statistically at par with the fertilizer treatments receiving NPK @ 120,60,60; 120,80,30; 120,80,60; 150,60,30; 150,60,60 or 150,80,30 kg/ha but were significantly higher than control and the treatments where one of the nutrient either N, P or K was not applied at all. Panicles/m², panicle weight and test weight of the crop responded similarly to NPK treatments and registered significantly higher values for hybrid rice variety KHR-2. Mean benefit: cost ratio was maximum (9.2) with 120 kg N +30 kg K₂O/ha followed by 120 kg N + 60 Kg P₂O₅ + 30 kg K₂O/ha (8.9). Hybrid rice variety KHR-2 recorded a B: C ratio of 14.4. Fertilizer dose of 120 kg N + 60 kg P₂O₅ +30 kg K₂O/ha could be safely recommended to exploit the genetic potential of rice hybrid KHR-2 in sandy loam soils of Jammu.