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Research on Crops

Enhancing rice (Oryza sativa L.) productivity in coastal environments through real-time nitrogen management and zinc fertilisation 


DOI: 10.31830/2348-7542.2025.ROC-1233    | Article Id: ROC-1233 | Page : 400-407
Citation :- Enhancing rice (Oryza sativa L.) productivity in coastal environments through real-time nitrogen management and zinc fertilisation. Res. Crop. 26: 400-407
MIRUNA, M, R. REX IMMANUEL AND G. BARADHAN mirunamalarvannan@gmail.com
Address : Department of Agronomy, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram - 608 002, Tamil Nadu, India
Submitted Date : 21-08-2025
Accepted Date : 5-09-2025
Online Published:

Abstract

Rice, the staple food for two-thirds of India’s population, faces productivity constraints from resource degradation, labour scarcity, climate change and nutrient imbalances. Low nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) due to blanket N recommendations leads to yield loss and environmental issues. Zinc deficiency, intensified by soil P–Zn antagonism, calls for integrated Zn fertiliser and Zn-solubilising bacteria use for sustainable production. Based on this, field experiments were conducted in Annamalai University Experimental Farm, Annamalai Nagar during Kharif (June to September 2024) and Rabi season (October 2024 to January 2025). The study was laid out in RBD with three replications using short-duration rice variety ‘ADT 43’ (110 days) under ten nutrient management treatments combining N, K, real-time CCI-based top dressing, Zn fertilizers, and Zn-solubilizing bacteria to develop an eco-friendly and economically viable production technology for enhancing transplanted rice productivity in the coastal Cauvery delta region. The pooled analyses of two seasons indicated that, application of Basal fertilisers (30 kg N/ha) + Top dressing @ 20 kg N/ha when CCI<29 + ZSB soil application + Foliar application of ZnO significantly enhanced all growth & yield parameters and it was more economically viable. The experiments demonstrated that integrating RTNM with zinc fertilisation improves rice productivity while nitrogen use efficiency, making it a promising strategy for coastal rice-growing regions.

Keywords

Chlorophyll content index crop demand nitrogen management real-time nitrogen management zinc fertiliser zinc solubiliser 

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