Productivity and quality enhancement of rice through micronutrients and soil amendments in acid soils of north-eastern hill region of India

A field experiment was conducted on sandy loam soil at Lamphelpat, Manipur during kharif seasons of 2013 and 2014 to assess the effect of soil amendments and micronutrients fortification on productivity and quality of rice. The experiment was laid outin split plot design with foursoil amendmenttreatments in the main plots and fourmicronutrients fortification treatments in the sub-plots. The results showed that application FYM 5.0 t/ha, lime 200 and 400 kg/ha improved growth attributes and increased yield components of rice over those of the control plots. Use of lime 400 kg/ha recorded highest rice grain (7.16 t/ha) and straw (8.95 t/ha) yields as compared to the other soil amendment practices. It also recorded higher N, P, K, Zn, Fe and Se contents in rice grain, greater returns and higher crop profitability (Rs. 1240/ha/day) than those of control plots, but comparable to the other soil amendment practices. Soil amendments (5 t/ha FYM, 200 and 400 kg/ha lime) significantly increased the available N, P, K, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu content in soil over those of the control plots. Micronutrient fortification also improved growth, increased productivity and nutrient contents in rice grain and enhanced gross and net returns, returns per rupee invested and crop profitability.