Productivity and profitability of basmati rice (Oryza sativa) in response to integrated use of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients

An experiment was carried out during the rainy (kharif) season 2013, to study the effect of inorganic and or- ganic sources of nutrients on plant growth, productivity and economics of basmati rice in rice (Oryza sativa L.) wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) emend. Fiori & Paol.] cropping system at Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. Ten treatments con- sisting of control (N P K ), 100% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) (120 : 60 : 60 NPK kg/ha) and 125% 0 0 0 RDF were studied against combination of organic manures with chemical fertilizers, i.e. 50% RDF + vermin-com- post (VC) @ 3.82 t/ha, 50% RDF + farm yard manure (FYM) @ 11.71 t/ha, 50% RDF + poultry manure (PM) @ 1.85 t/ha, 50% RDF + VC (@ 1.91 t/ha) + FYM (@ 5.85 t/ha), 50% RDF + VC (@ 1.91 t/ha) + PM (@ 0.97 t/ha), 50% RDF + FYM (@ 5.85 t/ha) + PM (@ 0.97 t/ha) and 50% RDF + FYM (@ 3.90 t/ha) + PM (0.65 t/ha) + VC (@ 1.32 t/ha), in randomize block design with 3 replications. Highest plant height, tillers, dry matter, yield attributes and grain yield (4.56 t/ha) of Basmati rice were recorded with the application of 125% RDF through inorganic source of nutrients which was statistically at par with the treatment of 50% RDF + poultry manure (4.28 t/ha) and significantly higher than 100% RDF (3.84 t/ha) and the control. Among different combination of organic manures with inorganic sources of nutrients, the replacement of 50% RDF with poultry manure recorded in significantly higher yield attributes and yield along with higher net returns and benefit: cost ratio.