Effect of Balanced Nutrient Approaches on Yield, Quality and Economics of Different Rice Varieties Under Direct Seeded Upland Condition in Eastern India

A field experiment was conducted at Central Rain-fed Upland Rice Research Station (CRURRS), Hazaribagh, research station in Jharkhand with the objective to determine better nutrient management practices for zero till upland rice and their effect on yield and nutrient use efficiency. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with three replications having three rice cultivar Vandana, Anjali and CR Dhan 40 in main plot and four nutrient management practices [soil test fertilizer recommendation meter (STFR), integrated nutrient management (INM), soil test crop response equation (STCR) and recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF)] in sub-plot. Results indicated that CR Dhan 40 recorded higher leaf area index, dry matter accumulation and number of effective tillers at 90 DAS compared to Vandana and Anjali. However, Vandana was better in terms of plant height of rice. Among nutrient management practices, STFR recorded significantly higher plant height, LAI and tillers per plant compared to other practices. Whereas STFR and INM were equally good in terms of DMA of rice at 90 DAS. CR Dhan 40 recorded the highest grain (3.85 t/ha), straw yield (6.22 t/ha), net returns (47.59×103 ₹/ha) and B:C ratio (1.98) followed by Anjali and Vandana. STFR enhanced the grain yield by 47% compared to RDF. STFR based NPK recorded the highest net returns (38.20×103 ₹/ha) followed by other NM practices. CR Dhan 40 had higher milling (60.3%) and head rice recovery (51.5%) compared to Anjali and Vandana. Whereas STFR based NPK application was better in hulling, milling and head rice recovery. STFR and INM recorded higher values of protein yield followed by STCR. Therefore, based on research findings, it can be concluded that rice cultivar “CR Dhan 40” with STFR and INM based fertilization may enhance the productivity and profitability of upland rice in the Eastern regions of India.