Influence of bio-fertilizers and nitrogen levels on transplanted rice (Oryza Sativa L.) under temperate agro-climatic conditions of Jammu and Kashmir

A field experiment to study the effect of nitrogen levels (0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 kg N ha⁻¹) and various biofertilizers (no biofertilizer, Blue Green algae(BGA), Azospirillum, BGA+ Azospirillum) on the growth and yield of transplanted rice was carried out on silty-clay loam soils of Shalimar, Kashmir during kharif 1998 and 1999. Application of nitrogen increased the growth (leaf area index) and yield attributes viz. panicles/m², grains/panicle up to 120 kg N/ha and 1000-grain weight up to 90 kg N/ha accompanied by improvements in N up-take and physiological nitrogen efficiency (PNE). With inclusion of bio-fertilizers grain yield increased only up to 90 kg N/ha while in the absence of inoculation, response was significant up to 120 kg N/ha, thereby saving 30 kg N/ha.