A comparative study of nutrient management in paddy under SRI and traditional methods of cultivation

Article Courtesy : University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad

Author : G. Janaki Rama Suresh Kumar

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at agricultural research station, Gangavati, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad during late rabi 2005-06 to compare the growth, yield, nutrient uptake and N dynamics of paddy under SRI (System of Rice Intensification) and traditional methods of cultivation as influenced by nutrient levels and biofertilizers.

The experiment was laid out on medium deep black clay soil by adopting split plot design and the treatments were replicated thrice. The treatments consisted of two methods of cultivation (SRI and traditional) as main plots and five fertilizer  levels (100% RDF, 75% RDF, 75% RDF + biofertilizers, 50% RDF, 50% RDF + biofertilizers) as subplots.

Significantly taller plants, higher number of tillers and higher dry matter production were noticed in SRI method of cultivation at all growth stages as compared to traditional method. SRI method recorded higher grain yield and yield attributes compared to traditional method of cultivation. Significantly higher concentration of plant N, P and K, higher uptake of N, P and K and higher available N, P and K in soils were noticed in SRI method as compared to traditional method. Higher concentration of NH4-N was registered in traditional method while higher concentration of NO3-N was registered in SRI method at all depths.

Application of 75% RDF + biofertilizers resulted in significantly taller plants, higher number of tillers per hill, highest dry matter and  higher grain yield and yield attributes. Significantly higher concentration of plant N, P and K, higher uptake of N, P and K and available N, P and K in soil were recorded in treatment receiving 75% RDF + biofertilizers. The same treatment also registered significantly higher readily available NH4-N and NO3-N contents at all stages. But, the lowest values were obtained in the treatment receiving 50% RDF.