Effect of integrated nutrient management practices on growth, yield attributes and soil nutrient status in irrigated rice (Oryza sativa L.)

A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2024 at the Instructional Farm, BTC College of Agriculture & Research Station, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, to assess the effect of integrated nutrient management (INM) on growth, yield, and nutrient uptake of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under irrigated conditions. The experiment, laid out in a Randomized Block Design with 11 treatments and three replications, involved combinations of chemical fertilizers (RDF: 100:60:40 NPK kg ha⁻¹) and biofertilizers—Blue-Green Algae (BGA), Azospirillum, phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria (PSB), and potassium-mobilizing bacteria (KMB). Results revealed that INM treatments significantly improved growth and yield attributes compared to control. The treatment with 75% RDF + BGA + PSB + KMB (T₆) recorded the highest plant height (144.21 cm), effective tillers (11.21 plant-1), panicle length (27.95 cm), grain weight per panicle (2.53 g), grain yield (32.15 q ha⁻¹), and straw yield (46.30 q ha⁻¹). Enhanced available N (274.91 kg ha⁻¹), P₂O₅ (13.37 kg ha⁻¹), and K₂O (260.42 kg ha⁻¹) were also observed under INM. These findings indicate that combining 50-75% RDF with multiple biofertilizers can sustain or enhance rice productivity while reducing chemical fertilizer usage, contributing to soil health and environmental sustainability.