Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Shenda Park, Farm Kolhapur on Entisol, Sub-Montane Zone of Maharashtra during the kharif seasons of 2007–08, 2008–09 and 2009–10 to study the response of kharif upland rice crop to fertilizer briquettes containing NPK. The response of conventional method of fertilizer application through fertilizers like urea, di-ammonium phosphate and muriate of potash was studied in comparison to application of the same fertilizers through briquettes at the different levels of NPK. The upland rice crop was sown in paired rows having alternate spacing of 15–25 cm and fertilized through briquettes placed in the 15 cm alternate bands of the paired rows to accommodate the different fertilizer levels. The recommended dose (RD) of fertilizers was applied at the rate of 100-50-50 (kg NPK/ha). The fertilizer treatments consisted of 100, 75 and 50% RD applied through conventional fertilizers to the crop and through briquettes. Nitrogen was applied in two splits for the conventional fertilizers, while phosphorus and potash were applied as basal. The briquettes containing the entire dose of fertilizers were applied as basal at the time of sowing. It was also compared to nitrogen application in two splits wherein half the dose of nitrogen was applied through briquettes along with P and K, while the rest half dose of nitrogen was applied after one month. Findings of study revealed that the basal application of fertilizers through briquettes significantly increased the grain yield of rice crop as compared to the conventional method of fertilizer application and nitrogen applied in splits. Application of fertilizer briquettes @ 100% RD to rice crop increased the grain yield of rice by 24% (37.0 q/ha) over the RD (29.9 q/ha) applied through conventional fertilizers. Application of nitrogen as basal through briquettes to rice was more effective and recorded higher yield of rice when compared to the split application of nitrogen. Basal application of nitrogen @ 75 and 100% RD through briquettes produced 15 and 6% higher grain yields of rice (34.5 and 37.0 q/ha), respectively, as compared to application of nitrogen in two splits (25.6, 29.9 and 34.9 q/ha) through briquettes. The straw yield and nutrient uptake by the crop also revealed similar trend. Fertilization of rice crop through the briquettes recorded relatively higher values of nutrient uptake which were reflected in higher grain, straw yields and yield contributing parameters. The soil nutrient contents after harvest of the rice crop revealed slightly higher soil test values when the crop was fertilized through briquettes.