Effect of Crop Establishment Methods and Nutrient Management Options for Enhancement of Rice Productivity under New Alluvial Zone

A field experiment was conducted during the kharif season of 2015 and 2016 under the aegis of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidayalaya, Kalyani, to find out the effect of different crop establishment methods and nutrient management options for enhancement of rice productivity under new alluvial zone of West Bengal. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design, replicated thrice. The treatment comprised three crop establishment methods (i.e., Direct Seeded Rice (DSR), normal transplanting and system of rice intensification (SRI)) and with five nutrient management method (i.e., control, 50% RDF, 75% RDF, 100% RDF and 125% RDF) as assigned to main plots. Each main plot were further divided into four subplot to accommodate four biofertilizer treatments (i.e., contorl, Azospirillum, PSB (phosphate solubilizing bacteria and Azospirillum + PSB)). Highest grain and straw yield found with the SRI methods and was at par with the normal transplanting condition and significantly superior to direct seeded rice cultivation. SRI method enhances rice grain and straw yield by 67.02 and 48.23% over the direct seeded rice cultivation, respectively. However, maximum biological yield found with the SRI methods of cultivation. With various fertility levels, more grain yield observed with the 125% RDF and was at par with the 100% RDF and 75% RDF, and significantly better to other treatments. Further, straw yields revealed that, highest amount registered with the 100% RDF and was statistically similar only with the 125% RDF and significantly better to other options. Grain and straw yield was 65.02 and 20.17% more registered with 125% RDF compared to control (no fertilizer application). Amongst various biofertilizers application, Azospirillum + PSB, more grain, straw and biological yield and was at par with the PSB application for grain and biological yield and statistically better to all other options under subplots treatments. Economics revealed that, highest B:C ratio registered with the SRI method (2.24) and was followed by direct seeded rice (1.94). With various fertility levels more B:C ratio registered with the 75% RDF (2.12) and was followed by 100% RDF. Amongst various subplot treatments, PSB registered more B: C ratio (2.22) and was closely followed by Azospirillum + PSB. Thus it can be concluded that SRI method of rice cultivation by 75% RDF with PSB application rsulted in higher yield and monetary advantage.