Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 2012-13 and 2013-2014 at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Killikulam to study the effect of different levels of nutrient on productivity, nutrients uptake, economics and soil fertility of rice. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design replicated thrice with 7 treatments involving three levels of N and two levels of P and K. Application of 200:75:75 kg NPK ha-1 produced the maximum plant height (95.7 cm), number of productive tillers / plant (18.3), panicle length (27.2), number of grains /panicle (212 ), 1000 grain weight (26.0 g), grain yield (7.04 t ha-1), straw yield (8.58 t ha-1), net return (52,576/ha), B:C ratio (1.65), N, P and K (171.9, 28.6 and 185.2 kg/ha, respectively) and uptake compared to control. Significant built up of organic carbon (1.24 %), available N (326.7 kg ha-1), P (21.4 kg ha-1) and K (362.7 kg ha-1) was registered with the application of 200:75:75 kg of NPK ha-1. The maximum balance of N, P and K (50.7, 5.6 and 74.0 kg ha-1, respectively) were also recorded under this treatment.

Keywords: Alfisol, Rice, NPK level, Available nutrients, Grain and straw yield