Effect of nutrient omission plot technique based nutrient management in rabi rice (Oryza sativa) on crop productivity, nutrient uptake and soil health

A field experiment was conducted at M.S. Swaminathan School of Agriculture’s post-graduate research farm in Gajapati, Odisha, during the rabi season of 2021–22 and 2022–23 to investigate the influence of nutrient omission plot technique (NOPT) based nutrient management on performance of rabi rice. The trial was laid in randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatment comprised of seven nutrient management practices, viz. T1, N120P60K60Zn05S25; T2, N0P60K60Zn05S25; T3, N120P0K60Zn05S25; T4, N120P60K0Zn05S25; T5, N120P60K60Zn0S25; T6, N120P60K60Zn05S0 and T7, absolute control. The treatment T1 resulted the significant highest plant height, dry-matter accumulation (1282.2 g/m2), leaf area index, tillers/m2 (287.6), panicle/m2 (206.2), spikelets/panicle (149.7), filled grains/panicle (124.1), panicle length and grain yield (4.89 t/ha). The significant highest amount of total N (99.4 kg/ha) and Zn uptake (781.9 g/kg) was noticed under T1 as compared to the other treatments. The maximum total P (30.3 kg/ha) and total S uptake (27.1 kg/ha) was recorded under T1 which was statistically at par with T5 and significantly higher than remaining treatments, respectively. Similarly, treatment T1 also resulted significant highest amount of total K uptake (125 kg/ha) followed by T5 and T6. Thus, the conjoint application of N120P60K60Zn05S25 is a viable and suitable alternative technology for sustainable rice production in Orissa or other similar ecoregions.