Abstract

The field experiment was conducted to study the effect of different nitrogen levels on the growth, yield and quality of direct-seeded hybrid rice during kharif 2012 and 2013 at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Hybrids SVH 027, SVH 005 and variety PR 115 did not significantly influence the number of effective tillers/m2, 1000-grain weight, grain yield and straw yield during both the years. However, hybrid SVH 027 produced highest grain yield (51.0 and 50.7 q/ha) which was followed by hybrid SVH 005 (50.7 and 49.1 q/ha) and minimum grain yield was recorded in variety PR 115 (41.7 and 47.3 q/ha) during both the years. Hybrid SVH 005 recorded highest brown rice recovery, head rice recovery and amylose content as compared to hybrid SVH 027 and variety PR 115. Different N levels showed significant difference in plant height, effective tillers/m2, days taken to panicle emergence, panicle length, grains per panicle, 1000-grain weight, grain yield, straw yield and nitrogen uptake. Application of N at 200 and 125 kg/ha produced significantly higher grain yield of 53.4 and 52.0 q/ha during 2012 and 2013, respectively, as compared to control and remained statistically at par with all other N levels. All the nitrogen levels recorded highest brown rice recovery, head rice recovery and amylose content as compared to control. It may be concluded that N level of 125 kg/ha was most suitable and economical dose than the other N levels.