Influence of organic and inorganic nutrient management practices on yield, economics and quality parameters of aerobic rice

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of organic and inorganic nutrient management practices on yield, economics and quality parameters of aerobic rice during kharif 2013 and 2014 at Main Agricultural Research Station, Dharwad. The experiment consisted of 24 treatment combinations comprising six main plots (manurial practices) and four sub-plots (liquid organic manures) which were replicated thrice. Integrated application of recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) (100: 50: 50 kg N, P2O5 and K2O/ha)+farm yard manure (FYM) @ 5 t/ha+microbial consortium (Azospirillum + phosphate solubilizing bacteria) with soil application of biodigester @ 2500 l/ha at 30, 60 and 90 days after sowing (DAS) recorded significantly higher productive tillers/m2 (466.62), filled grains/panicle (92.97), grain yield (4262 kg/ha), straw yield (6033 kg/ha), protein (8.75%) and starch (22.70%). Among the treatment combinations, integrated application of RDF+FYM+microbial consortium and soil application of cow urine @ 500 l/ha at 30, 60 and 90 DAS recorded significantly higher net returns (Rs. 34, 595/ha) and benefit: cost ratio of Rs. 2.17 over other treatments.