Performance of basmati rice (Oryza sativa)-based cropping systems under different modes of nutrient management

Field experiments were carried out during 2006–08 to study the response of basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.)-based cropping systems to different modes of nutrient management. The system productivity was the highest with basmati rice–vegetable pea (Pisum sativum L.) (4.40 tonnes/ha) during 2006–07 and basmati rice–wheat (Tritcum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.) (4.36 tonnes/ha) during 2007–08. These two cropping systems were significantly better than the basmati rice–lentil (Lens esculenta M.) and basmati rice–Brassica napus during each year of study. Comparison of different nutrient management showed that the grain yield of rice with inorganic nutrient management was significantly highest (3.55 tonnes/ha) in 2006–07, while in 2007–08 it was at par with organic nutrient management, the system productivity in terms of rice equivalent yield was also 37.0 and 5.0% higher with inorganic nutrient management over the organic nutrient management in 2006–07 and 2007–08, respectively. Soil organic carbon was 13.0% higher with organic nutrient management (0.907%) than the inorganic nutrient management (0.803%). Available potassium was also significantly higher with organic nutrient management after harvest of winter (rabi) season crops. However, available nitrogen and phosphorus were recorded significantly higher with integrated nutrient management at harvest of both rice and rabi crops. The available sulphur remained the highest with inorganic nutrient management during both the seasons. Improvement in soil organic carbon, available N, P, K and S was higher under basmati rice–lentil cropping system during the both seasons.