Effects of tillage and fertilizers on soil and yield characteristics of brri dhan97 rice

A field study was conducted at the Soil Resource Development Institute Research Field, Mymensingh, Bangladesh from January to May 2024 to evaluate the impact of tillage intensity and use of chemical fertilizer on soil and yield attributes of Boro rice (cv. BRRI Dhan97). The study was conducted in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. The treatments were: T1 +C = 1 passing of power tiller + chemical fertilizer, T2 +C = 2 passing of power tiller + chemical fertilizer, and T3 +C = 3 passing of power tiller + chemical fertilizer. Fertilizers were utilized @ 124 kg N ha-1, 23 kg P ha-1, 68 kg K ha-1, 12 kg S ha-1, 7 kg Zn ha-1 as Urea, TSP, MOP, Gypsum (CaSO₄·2H₂O), and ZnO forms. The results revealed that soil physical parameters were substantially affected by tillage and chemical fertilizer treatments. Three passing of power tiller in combination with chemical fertilizer presented substantially lower (p<0.01) bulk density than all other treatments. T1+C and T2+C treatments are significantly higher than T3+C treatment. The maximum soil moisture content of 49.78% was measured in the T3+C treatment which was significantly higher (p<0.01) than all other treatments were statistically different. The highest air-filled porosity of 11.95% was measured in the T3+C treatment which was substantially higher (p<0.01) than T1+C and T2+C treatments where they were statistically different. Considering the plant attributes, the maximum number of effective tillers hill-1 (16.84) and 1000 grain weight (22.58 g) were observed in T3+C treatment which was significantly higher (p<0.05). The maximum grain (7.33 t ha-1) and straw (9.83 t ha-1) yields were documented in T3+C treatment which was substantially higher (p<0.01) than other treatments. Considering the soil and rice yield attributes T3+C treatment proved the best results.