Determination of optimum and economic doses of fertilizers for rice production in saline and charlands ecosystem

Abstract

On-farm experiment was carried out for four consecutive seasons: Boro (dry season) 2011-12, Transplanted Aman (T. Aman, wet season) 2012, Boro 2012- 13 and T. Aman 2013 at the farmer’s field in Londonipara, Sonagazi, Feni to develop fertilizer recommendation for rice-based cropping systems in saline and charland ecosystem in Bangladesh. The experiments were designed with eight treatments and laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatment combinations were: T₁ = 100% NPKSZn (STB), T₂ = T₁ + 25% N, T₃ = T₁ + 25% NP, T₄ = T₁ + 25% NK, T₅ = T₁ + 25% PK, T₆ = T₁ + 25% NPK, T₇ = 75% of T₁ and T₈ = Absolute control. Results indicated that application of different fertilizers significantly affected the grain yield at all of the seasons. In Boro 2011-12, the highest grain yield was found in treatment T₁ (100% STB) while T₃ (T₁ + 25% NP) gave highest grain yield in Boro 2012-13. Statistically identical yield was observed in Boro 2011-12 with all treatments except control (T₈). Highest grain yield was found with T₆ (T₁ + 25% NPK) treatments in both of T. Aman 2012 and 2013 seasons. Annual straw yield was found more in T₆ (T₁ + 25% NPK) treatment. All the treatment combinations gave significantly higher yield over the control in all seasons. However, on the basis of yield performance, economic analysis and nutrient absorption, the treatment T₆ = T₁ + 25% NPK (N₂₂₅P₃₀K_17.5S₁₅Zn₄ for Boro and N₁₂₁P₁₅K₉S₁₀Zn₃ for T. Aman) performed the best among the treatments.

Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 42(3): 521-529, September 2017