Yield maximization of rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties at varying fertility level in mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh
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Date
2019-08-30
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
palampur
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2018 at CSKHPKV, Rice and
Wheat Research Centre (RWRC), Malan with the objective of fine-tuning fertility levels
for maximizing yield of rice varieties in mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh. The experiment
consisted of 5 main-plot treatments comprising different fertility levels {50%
recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), 100% RDF (90:40:40), 150% RDF, 50% RDF +
Azolla and 100% RDF + Azolla} and 4 varieties as sub-plot treatments {Vivekdhan 65,
HPR 2143, HPR 2720 (red rice) and AZ 6508 (hybrid)}. The soil of the experimental site
was silty clay loam in texture, acidic in reaction, medium in available nitrogen,
phosphorus and potassium and sufficient in available zinc and iron. Azolla was applied
@ 20-25 g m
-2
at 10 DAT, which was allowed to multiply in-situ for about 2-3 weeks and
subsequently trampled twice. The increase in fertility level and Azolla application
increased the growth, yield attributes and yield of rice. Application of Azolla increased
the rice productivity significantly both at 50 and 100% RDF by 399 and 481 kg ha
-1
,
respectively. Application of 100% RDF + Azolla recorded productivity (5319 kg ha
-1
)
and profitability (INR 79,490 ha
-1
) which was at par with productivity and profitability
achieved with 150% RDF (5192 kg ha
-1
, INR 75,738 ha
-1
). Similarly, 50% RDF + Azolla
recorded productivity and profitability which was at par with 100% RDF thus revealing a
saving of 50% RDF with the use of Azolla. Hybrid „AZ 6508‟ recorded maximum grain
yield of 6924 kg ha
-1
followed by Vivekdhan 65 (4822 kg ha
-1
), red rice „HPR 2720‟
(3924 kg ha
-1
) and HPR 2143 (3740 kg ha
-1
). The maximum net return (INR 93,924 ha
-1
)
and B:C ratio (2.13) were recorded by the hybrid AZ 6508. Though the productivity of
Vivekdhan 65 was more than red rice „HPR 2720‟, but due to higher price of red rice it
fetched more net return (INR 76,248 ha
-1
) and B:C ratio (1.94). Interaction effect
revealed that the application of 100% RDF + Azolla to the hybrid AZ 6508 produced
grain yield of 7430 kg ha
-1
with net return of INR 101,630 ha
-1
and B:C ratio of 2.23.
Thus, farmers of mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh can maximize the rice productivity by
growing hybrid AZ 6508 and applying 100% RDF + Azolla @ 20-25 g m
-2
10 DAT.
Next to hybrid, red rice HPR 2720 is the most profitable choice.