Effect of Planting Techniques and Nitrogen Scheduling on Productivity and Profitability of Basmati Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Aim: The present experiment was carried out at Crop Research Center of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut (U.P.), India, to study the effect of planting techniques and nitrogen scheduling on scented wet rice, water productivity and soil health in Inceptisol during kharif season of 2019 and 2020. Study Design: Experiment was laid out in split plot design (SPD) using crop planting techniques as main plot and nitrogen scheduling as sub plot factor. Place and Duration of Study: The present investigation was conducted during the kharif season of 2019 and 2020 at the Crop Research Centre of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut (U.P.), India. Methodology: The main factors consist of four planting techniques viz., Furrow Irrigated Raised Bed System (FIRBs), Reduced Tillage Transplanted Rice (RT-TPR), Unpuddled Transplanted Rice (UTR) and Conventional Transplanted Rice (CTR), the sub factors consist of six nitrogen scheduling variables viz., Control, 100% RDN (50% B + 25% AT + 25% PI), 100% RDN (40% B + 35% AT + 25% PI), 120% RDN (50% B + 25% AT + 25% PI), 120% RDN (40% B + 35% AT + 25% PI) and Real Time N Management through LCC. Observations on crop yield and attributing parameters were recorded at the harvest of crop. Crop was harvested manually at full physiological maturity. The straw yield was obtained by subtract grain yield from the total biomass yield, recorded plot wise after sun drying and computed to q ha-1. Results: Highest yield recorded under conventional transplanting which was statistically at par with FIRBs and significantly higher than UTR and RT-TPR. Among the nitrogen scheduling practices the highest yield and NPK uptake was obtained with Real Time N Management through LCC which was statistically at par with 120% RDN (50% B + 25% AT + 25% PI) and 100% RDN (50% B + 25% AT + 25% PI), lowest yield and nutrient uptake was obtained in control treatment during both the years of study. Highest net return and B: C ratio was recorded under furrow irrigated raised beds transplanted rice. Conclusion: Basmati rice gave the higher yield under CTR and net return was associated with FIRBs. Therefore, it may be concluded that transplanting of rice on FIRBs with real time nitrogen management through LCC might be a better option to get higher productivity and profitability of basmati rice.