Optimizing NPK Uptake in Basmati Rice through Organic Nutrient Management across Contrasting Water Management Regimes

Basmati rice is a superior aromatic variety grown extensively in North India. It is challenged in cultivation by the use of a lot of water and excessive dependency on chemical fertilizers, impacting soil health and ecosystem balance. The present research was conducted to assess the influence of organic sources of nutrients on nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium uptake by Basmati rice under two water management regimes: puddled and aerobic. The experiment was carried out in the 2021 and 2022 Kharif seasons at Shri Guru Ram Rai University, Dehradun, and Uttarakhand. The experiment followed split-plot layout having two major water treatments, puddled and aerobic, and six nutrient treatments, i.e., poultry manure, night soil, press mud, farmyard manure, and 100% recommended dose of fertilizers. The findings indicated that rice under puddled conditions had greater uptake of nutrients. The highest performance was observed in 75% night soil and 25% poultry manure treatment, which showed the highest nutrient uptake in the grain with 61.53 kilograms per hectare nitrogen, 18.92 kilograms per hectare phosphorus, and 19.86 kilograms per hectare potassium. Organic treatments were superior to chemical fertilizers in nutrient build-up in both grain and straw. The research points out that application of organic nutrients in combination with water management can enhance nutrient utilization, maintain soil health, and provide clean grain production. It is beneficial in sustainable cultivation of Basmati rice, particularly in hilly areas, and also in line with global objectives such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture.