MSc

The study on "Soil amelioration and nutrient management of rice in Kole lands" was
conducted during 2013-2014 at Ponnamutha Kole padavu of Venkitangu panchayath in
farmer's field. The objective of the experiment was to study the effect of soil ameliorants and
nutrients viz. K, Ca, Mg, B and Si on growth, n?trient uptake and yield of rice and to develop
a nutrient management schedule for higher productivity of rice in Kole lands.
The experiment was laid out in RED with three replications and there were twelve
treatments comprising of soil test based nutrient package of NPK, nutrients as per Package of
practice recommendations (POPR), different doses of K, individual applications of
magnesium and boron, different sources of silica and combined application of nutrients and
soil ameliorants. FYM, lime and silica were applied at the time of ploughing. Nitrogen was
applied in three equal split doses, phosphorus as basal, potassium and boron in two equal split
doses. Observations on growth characters, yield attributes and yield were recorded. Nutrient
contents of plant and soil were determined using standard procedures.
The growth characters of rice such as plant height, number of tillers, chlorophyll
content and dry matter production were significantly improved by combined application of
magnesium, boron and silica followed by application of silica as sodium silicate resulting in
increased number of panicles/rrr' and number of spikelets/m/ and ultimately the yield and B:C
ratio. Application of boron along with POPR also positively influenced all the yield
attributing characters with highest per cent filled grains and increased yield.
The nutrient content of major and micronutrients in plant Fe and Mn showed an
increase over other treatments while Fe and Mn content decreased due to combined
application of magnesium, boron and silica along with other nutrients as per POPR.
Application of silica improved the soil nutrient status enabling increased uptake of nutrients
and enhanced yield. The combined application of magnesium, boron and silica and individual
application of boron and silica with POPR significantly influenced the pH, EC and available
nutrient status of soil. The application of lime and silica had regulated the soil pH and
decreased the Fe and Mn content of soil.

The combined application of magnesium, boron and silica and individual application
of silica as sodium silicate and boron along with FYM, NPK and lime as per paPR were
found to be effective in ameliorating the harmful effects of Kole land soil which ultimately
led to enhanced yield.