Influence of Irrigation Management Practices and Different Establishment Methods on Nutrient Use Efficiency of Rice

A field experiment was conducted at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, V. C. Farm, Mandya, to study the effect of irrigation management practices and rice establishment methods on growth and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) during Kharif 2018. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three main plot irrigation methods and five sub plot rice establishment methods. The combination of 15 treatments was replicated thrice. The results revealed significantly higher leaf area (920.61 cm2 hill-1), dry matter production (70.82 g hill-1) at harvest, net returns (42,495 Rs. ha-1) and B:C ratio (2.00) in alternate wetting and drying up to PI followed by flooding 3 ± 2 cm after PI method of irrigation. While among establishment methods, manual transplanting recorded significantly higher grain yield (5253 kg ha-1). Interaction between alternate wetting and drying up to PI followed by flooding 3 ± 2 cm after PI and mechanical transplanting recorded higher gross returns (99,377 Rs. ha-1), net returns (55,112 Rs. ha-1) and B:C ratio (2.25).