Productivity and economics of rice (Oryza sativa)maize (Zea mays) as influenced by methods of crop establishment, Zn and S application in rice

A field experiment was conducted during 2007-08 and 2008-09 at Hyderabad, to study the effect of three rice ( Or yza sativa L.) establishment methods [sowing of sprouted rice under puddle condition (DS) at 25 cm x 25 cm, system of rice intensification (SRI) seedlings transplanted at 25 cm x 25 cm and conventional transplanting (CT) at 20 cm x 15 cm] as main plots and five nutrient combinations (NPK, NPK + Zn, NPK + S, NPK + Zn + S and NPK + FYM ) in sub - plots on rice-maize ( Zea mays L.) sequence in a spilt plot design with treatments replicated thrice. On an average rice under SRI recorded the higher drymatter accumulation /hill, yield attributes and yield. On an average SRI rice maize sequence recorded the highest rice equivalent yield (11.37 t/ha on mean basis), net re- turns (58,346 Rs/ha) and benefit : cost ratio (BCR). Application of S, Zn and FYM improved significantly the pro- ductivity of rice and succeeding maize crop. Among nutrient management practices, NPK + Zn + S recorded higher grain yield (5.27 t/ha) and yield attributes during both years of rice cultivation, except that it was on par with NPK + FYM in 2008-09. Similar trend was also observed in uptake of nutrients. Based on the systems productivity (11.72 t/ha), net returns (58,983 Rs/ha), and BCR, NPK + Zn + S treatment excelled all other nutrient combina- tions. SRI method used 23 and 25% less water compared to CT and DS. NPK + FYM application to rice crop re- corded significantly highest quantity of available soil N, P and K content after crop harvest. While, highest avail- able soil S and Zn content was recorded by the treatments where in respective nutrients were applied in the previ- ous season to rice. Thus it is concluded that SRI rice maize is more productive, beneficial and efficient water user. Both Zn and S be applied to rice to raise the productivity of subsequent maize too.