Utility of an indigenous source of magnesium silicate for rice in Kuttanad soils

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Kavalikari padom, Changanacherry, Kuttanad tract, to investigate the effect of 'Steatite' (Magnesium silicate) on the growth and yield characters of rice in Kuttanad soils. The samples of grain and straw from the experiment were analysed for the contents of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Si; and the uptake of nutrients per plot computed. The influence of the treatments on the grain shattering character of Jyothi variety; incidence of pests and diseases etc., were also studied. The following results were obtained. Steatite application increased tillering and plant height. The yield of grain and straw showed increase. The increase was statistically significant at five per cent level in the case of 400 kg/ha treatment. The thousand grain weight increased significantly in all the four levels of treatments over control. The treatments resulted in decreasing the N. P. K and Ca content of grain and straw , while Mg and S1 content increased with increasing levels of the treatment.