MSc

The experiment entitled ‘Performance of upland rice(Oryza sativa L.) as
influenced by NK levels and FYM substitution’ was conducted in the field of Sri.
Ambu, Akshaya Koolome road, Madikkai during the virippu season of 2015 to
study the influence of different levels of N and K on growth, yield attributes, yield
of upland rice and to assess the possibility of substitution of inorganic N by FYM
(Farmyard Manure). The experiment was laid out in randomised block design
with 10 treatments and 3 replications. The treatments were T 1 - 80 kg N applied as
100% CF (Chemical Fertilizer) and 40 kg K 2 O, T 2 - 80 kg N applied as 60 kg CF,
20 kg FYM and 40 kg K 2 O, T 3 - 80 kg N applied as 40 kg CF, 40 kg FYM and 40
kg K 2 O, T 4 - 100 kg N applied as 100% CF and 50 kg K 2 O, T 5 - 100 kg N applied
as 75 kg CF, 25 kg FYM and 50 kg K 2 O, T 6 - 100 kg N applied as 50 kg CF, 50
kg FYM and 50 kg K 2 O, T 7 - 120 kg N applied as 100% CF and 60 kg K 2 O, T 8 -
120 kg N applied as 90 kg CF, 30 kg FYM and 60 kg K 2 O, T 9 - 120 kg N applied
as 60 kg CF, 60 kg FYM and 60 kg K 2 O and T 10 - 60 kg N applied as 100% CF
and 30 kg K 2 O.
A dose of 30 kg P 2 O 5 ha -1 was uniformly applied to all
treatments.
The results of the experiment revealed that application of 120 kg N ha -1
with 50 per cent substituted as FYM and 60 kg K 2 O ha -1 significantly increased
the growth and yield attributessuch as height, leaf area index, number of
productive tillers m -2 , panicle weight, panicle length, total spikelets panicle -1 , filled
grains panicle -1 and 1000 grain weight.
Higher grain and straw yields were obtained with the application of 120 kg
N ha -1 with 50 per cent substituted by FYM and 60 kg K 2 O ha -1 and was on par
with 120 kg N ha -1 with 25 per cent substituted as FYM and 60 kg K 2 O ha -1 .
Application of120 kg N ha -1 with 25 per cent substituted as FYM and 60 kg K 2 O
ha -1 registered the highest harvest index.Application of 100 kg N ha -1 as chemical fertilizer and 50 kg K 2 O ha -1
recorded the maximum grain protein content. The uptake of N, P and K differed
significantly. The highest uptake of N was recorded by the application of 120 kg
N ha -1 with 25 per cent substituted by FYM and 60 kg K 2 O ha -1 . The P uptake was
highest for N applied at 100 kg ha -1 with 25 per cent substituted as FYM and 50
kg K 2 O ha -1 . The highest K uptake was recorded by the application of 120 kg N
ha -1 with 50 per cent substituted as FYM and 60 kg K 2 O ha -1 .
The soil physical properties were favourably influenced by treatments.
The lowest bulk density and highestporosity valueswere recorded by the
application of 120 kg N ha -1 with 50 per cent substituted as FYM and 60 kg K 2 O
ha -1 . The highest water holding capacity was recorded by the application of 100
kg N ha -1 with 50 per cent substituted as FYM and 50 kg K 2 O ha -1 .
The available nutrient status of the soil was significantly improved by the
application of treatments. At post harvest stage, soil available N and P 2 O 5 were
found to be enhanced due to the application of 120 kg N ha -1 with 25 per cent
substituted by FYM and 60 kg K 2 O ha -1 . The Highest value for soil available K 2 O
was recorded by the application of 120 kg N ha -1 with 50 per cent substituted as
FYM and 60 kg K 2 O ha -1 .There was significant increase in the organic carbon
status of the soil after the experiment. The application of 120 kg N ha -1 with 50
per cent substituted as FYM and 60 kg K 2 O ha -1 recorded the highest organic
carbon status of the soil.
The highest net return and benefit cost ratio were registered with
application of 120 kg N ha -1 with 25 per cent substituted by FYM and 60 kg K 2 O
ha -1 .
The results indicated that integrated use of organic and inorganic source of
nutrients not only increased the growth, yield attributes and yield of upland rice,
but also improved the soil physical, chemical properties and economics of
cultivation