Muraleedharan V2020-12-022020-12-021993170490https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810156129P GWith a view to assess the role of Azospirillum on growth and productivity of rice as ameans of economising fertilizer nitrogen application, a field experiment was conducted at the Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during the period from June 1992 to September 1992. The variety used as Red Triveni. The experiment was laid out as 4x3x2+1 factorial experiment in randomised block design with two replications. The treatments includes four methods of inoculation of Azospirillum (seed, seedling root dip, soil and combined inoculation), three levels of nitrogen (50, 75 and 100 per cent recommended dose of nitrogen) and two levels of lime (without and with lime) along with a control (KAU Package of Practices). An abstract of the results is given below. Among the different methods of Azospirillum inoculation, combined application influenced almost all the growth characters significantly. Application of 100 per cent recommended dose of nitrogen and lime application also influenced the growth characters significantly. Among the yield attributes, productive tillers per square metre, and panicle weight were significantly influenced by various treatments. The combined application of Azospirillum recorded the highest grain yield. Similarly 75 per cent recommended dose of nitrogen and liming also recorded higher grain yields. A significant change in harvest index was also observed due to various treatments. Uptake of nutrients was significantly influenced by all the treatments. Among the inoculation methods, combined method of inoculation recorded the maximum uptake. Similarly highest level of nitrogen and lime application showed the highest uptake of nutrients. Combined method of inoculation, highest level of nitrogen and lime application recorded the highest value of protein content. Economic analysis of data revealed that combined application of Azospirillum plus 75 per cent nitrogen plus lime produced a net income which is comparable with the highest net income produced by combined application of Azospirillum plus 100 per cent nitrogen plus lime. When compared to control the net income produced by these treatments are higher, indicating the superiority of the above treatments. Thus it is seen that we can save atleast 25 per cent of the fertilizer nitrogen by incorporating the Azospirillum through combined application.EnglishThesis