Yield of Boro Rice as Influenced by Integrated Nutrient Management in Lateritic Soils of West Bengal, India

Abstract

A two-year field experiment was conducted during boro seasons of 2015 and 2016 at Research Farm of Institute of Agriculture, Visva-Bharati University, Sriniketan, West Bengal, India. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with three replications and fifteen treatments in a typical Lateritic soil of West Bengal. The soil properties of the experimental site ware sandy loam with acidic in reaction; low in organic carbon, low in available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur and boron; medium in available zinc. After harvesting of boro rice, soil samples were analyzed for soil reaction, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, available N, P, K, S, B and Zn. Application of 2.2 kg B ha-1 , 4.2 kg Zn ha-1 , 0.26 kg Mo ha-1 , 20 kg S ha-1 , RDF along with 2.5 t Vermicompost ha-1 and 6 kg Azospirillum ha-1 were showed significantly highest grain yield of boro rice. i.e. 6.66 t ha-1 (T13) followed by T12, T11, T8, T5, T9, T6, T4, T14, T7, T10, T15, T3, T2 and T1. Integrated nutrient management increased the availability of N, P, K, S, B and Zn in soil and also increased the yield of boro rice.The major challenges in 21st century are food security, environmental quality and soil health. Rice is an important staple food crop of the tropical world. Over 90 per cent of the world’s rice is produced and consumed in the Asia-Pacific Region (FAO, 2017). In 2018, more than 48 million tonnes of rice will be consumed worldwide, according to the USDA. Rice is currently grown in over a hundred countries that produce more than 752 million tons of paddy rice annually (Fig. 5). Overall rice production in Asia is expected to reach 686.1 million tonnes (FAO 2017) and in India it is estimated at 109.7 Million tons (IGC 2018). Among rice suppliers, India is expected to remain the world’s top exporter (Fig. 4). The world’s population will hit 9 billion by 2050 (Dubois 2011). In order to feed this escalating population, the world requires a global revolution and cereal production potential must increase. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the staple food of more than 60% of the world’s population and provides up to 50% of the dietary caloric supply for millions living