An Economic Study on the Production Enhancement of Scented Rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Uttar Pradesh's Central Plain Zone Using Bio Fertiliser, Organic Manure, and Micronutrients

Abstract

Nutrient management through organics plays a major role in maintaining soil health due to build-up of soil organic matter, beneficial microbes and enzymes, besides improving soil physical and chemical properties. Therefore, combined use of organic manure and inorganic fertilizers in an integrated manner will give better performance in cereals by sustaining higher yield and maintaining soil health as well. The study was conducted to study the economics of production enhancement on scented rice through biofertilizer, organic manure, and micronutrients. Field experiments were conducted during the Kharif seasons of 2021 and 2022 at Crop Research Farm, Nawabganj, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The experiment consisted three varieties (PB-1509, PB-1121 and PB-1), three bio-fertilizer and organic manure levels (BGA @ 10 kg ha-1, FYM @10 t ha-1 and BGA @ 10 kg ha-1 + FYM @10 t ha-1) and three nutrient management treatments (NPK- 120:60:60 kg ha-1 only, NPK + ZnSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1 as basal + FeSO4 1% sprayed at tillering stage and NPK + ZnSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1 as basal + FeSO4 1% sprayed at panicle initiation stage). The treatments were accommodated in a split-split plot design with three replications. The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam in texture having low organic carbon (0.39 %), medium in available nitrogen (179 kg ha-1), low in available phosphorus (13.0 kg ha-1), medium in available potassium (156 kg ha-1), low in available zinc (0.58 mg ha-1) and normal in available iron (7.83 mg ha-1) with normal pH (7.95). Pooled results of two years experimentation indicated that highest value of net income (Rs 75749.43, Rs 61471.54 and Rs 57129.86) and B:C ratio (2.06, 1.85 and 1.79) was recorded under the variety PB-1121, BGA @ 10 kg ha-1 + FYM @ 10 t ha-1 and NPK (120:60:60 kg ha-1) + ZnSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1 as basal + FeSO4 1% sprayed at tillering stage respectively.