Effects of Synergistic Application of Tillage, Poultry Manure, and Chemical Fertilizer on Soil and Yield Attributes of BRRI Dhan28

Bangladesh is considered an overpopulated country due to its high population density and limited land area. It is urgently needed to increase average rice production in Bangladesh to feed the large population of this country. Soil fertility deterioration has become a major constraint to higher crop production in Bangladesh. The increasing land use intensity without adequate and balanced use of chemical fertilizers and with little or no use of organic manures have caused severe fertility deterioration of our soils resulting in stagnating or even declining crop productivity. A field experiment was conducted at the Bangladesh Agricultural University Farm, Mymensingh during January to May 2023 to assess the effect of tillage intensity, use of poultry manure and chemical fertilizer on soil and yield attributes of Boro rice (cv. BRRI Dhan28). The experiment was organized in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments were: T1+P+C = one passing of power tiller + poultry manure @ 5 t ha-1 + chemical fertilizer, T2+P+C = two passing of power tiller + poultry manure @ 5 t ha-1 + chemical fertilizer and T3+P+C = three passing of power tiller + poultry manure @ 5 t ha-1 + chemical fertilizer. Fertilizers were applied @ 123 kg N ha-1, 22 kg P ha-1, 67 kg K ha-1, 11 kg S ha-1, 6 kg Zn ha-1 as Urea, TSP, MOP, ZnO forms. The results revealed that soil physical parameters were significantly influenced by tillage, poultry manure and chemical fertilizer treatments. Three passing of power tiller in combination with poultry manure and chemical fertilizer showed significantly lower (p<0.01) bulk density than all other treatments. The highest soil moisture content of 54.73% was measured in T3+P+C treatment which was significantly higher (p<0.01) than all other treatments which were statistically different. The highest air-filled porosity of 14.93% was measured in T3+P+C treatment which was significantly higher (p<0.01) than T1+P+C and T2+P+C treatments where they were statistically different. Considering the plant attributes, the maximum number of effective tillers hill-1 (18.23) and 1000 grain weight (22.82 g) were observed in T3+P+C treatment which was significantly higher (p<0.05). The highest grain (8.67 t ha-1) and straw (10.66 t ha-1) yields were recorded in T3+P+C treatment which was significantly higher (p<0.01) than other treatments. Considering the soil and rice yield attributes T3+P+C treatment proved the best treatments. It was concluded that judicious application of tillage, poultry manure, and chemical fertilizer improved the physical properties of soil and increased the yield of BRRI Dhan28.