Integrated nutrient management for enhancing system productivity and sustaining soil health in rice based system

Nutrient use efficiency are very low in rice fields. Integrated plant nutrient supply (IPNS) is a proven nutrient management strategy for sustaining enhancing fertilizer use efficiency and sustaining soil health. Work done on IPNS approach improves the NUE by 8–28% in rice based cropping system. IPNS technology packages designed on local availability of organic sources and their competitive uses results in better sustainability. The research findings generated without involvement of the farmer hardly find place in the farming practices. A pragmatic approach is required for IPNS packages with involvement of farmers. The IPNS recommendations evolved with such a farmer participatory research process had greater acceptability among the farmers. It helped in arresting soil organic carbon and restoring in situ water in fields. Thus, integrated nutrient supply and management based on soil test proved a viable technique to sustain crop yield and quality without adversely affecting the environment.