Sustainable soil health management through site specific nutrient management in rice using nutrient expert in Bihar

Nutrient Expert (NE) was evaluated in Bihar comparing results against the State Recommendations (SR) and Farmers’ Fertilizer Practice (FFP). NE determines field-specific fertilizer rates for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium requirements for cereal crops. We used recent advances in information and communication technology and computer base applications of “NE for rice, wheat and maize” which transforms the science of SSNM into field-specific needs and conditions of a farmer. Across all sites, NE Rice increased yield and economic benefit over FFP and SR. Compared with FFP, it increased average yield by 0.54 t/ha with decrease in fertilizer N (−34.2 kg N/ha) and P (−16.4 kg P2O5/ha) but with large increase in fertilizer K (+37 kg K₂O/ha). Recommendations from NE Rice also increased yield (by 0.41 t/ha) over SR with moderate increase in fertilizer K (+11.5 kg K₂O/ha) and N and P fertilizer was decrease N (−12.5 kg N/ha) and P (−29.8 Kg P₂O₅/ha). Thus, NE based fertilizer application resulted in significantly higher grain yields over farmer fertilizer practice (FFP) and State recommendation (SR). Average rice yield with NE based fertilizer recommendation was 4.06 t ha⁻¹, which was 11.61% more than the SR and 15.84% higher than the FFP. With NE an additional net income of Rs. 6200 ha⁻¹ and Rs. 7798 ha⁻¹ was obtained over SR and FFP, respectively.