Effect of water management and lime on iron toxicity and yield of paddy

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during rabi and summer seasons of 1991-92 in paddy fields of Chalakudy Command Area, in order to study the effect of a single top dressing of lime on iron toxicity and yield of paddy under different water management practices. Considerable reduction in Fe' * concentration could be noticed in soil as well as plant during the period of panicle initiation when lime was applied entirely as one top dressing (at 20 days after transplanting or 30 days after sowing). Application of lime 9 500 kg ha' as single top dressing resulted significantly higher grain and straw yields of paddy as compared to lime >8> 300 kg ha ', 900 kg ha ' and no lime application. The economic level of lime for getting maximum profit from grain and straw was 568 kg ha ' and 635 kg ha1 for the rabi and summer crops respectively.