Rice yield enhancement and environmental sustainability with precision nutrient management

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Rice agriculture faces challenges related to incorrect fertilizer use and the inappropriate application of improved varieties. Site-specific nutrient management is a promising approach for adjusting fertilizer use according to the needs of specific rice cultivars and soil conditions. This study investigated the effects of site-specific nutrient management on the growth and productivity of adaptable-modified rice cultivars (Oryza sativa L.) in Semarang, Indonesia. It also evaluated the agronomic and economic effects of site-specific nutrient management compared with traditional fertilization methods.METHODS: The three varieties, Inpari-6 (V1), Hipa-5 (V2), and local (V3) were tested with a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Fertilizer treatments included the Ministry of Agriculture recommendations (P1), site-specific fertilizer using a soil test kit (P2), and farmer’s fertilization practices (P3). The data collected included growth measures, yield components, and economic efficacy.FINDINGS: The results showed that the combination of site-specific fertilization (P2) and Inpari-6 produced the highest number of productive tillers (16) and yielded 7.4 ton per hectares of milled dry grain, increasing productivity by 39.6 percent. This combination also produced the largest nitrogen fertilizer reduction and increased profits, with a 42.8 percent profit difference compared with farmer’s fertilization practices. These findings highlight the potential of site-specific nutrient management to improve resource efficiency, minimize nitrogen runoff, and increase rice productivity.CONCLUSIONS: Site-specific nutrient management outperformed the traditional fertilization methods, especially when combined with the Inpari-6 variety. These findings support using site-specific nutrient management as a long-term strategy to increase yields, reduce environmental impacts, and enhance economic returns. Further research was required to assess site-specific nutrient management's long-term environmental and agronomic effects across diverse rice-growing regions.