Growth and Yield of Rice as Influenced By Methods of Establishment and Nutrient Management

A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive years (2017 -18 and 2018-19) at the Agricultural College Farm, Naira. The experimentation was laid out in split plot design with three replications. The treatments consisted of two main plots (Wet seeded rice (Drum seeding) and transplanting method and four sub plots Viz., S1: 100% RDF (Chemical fertilizers); S2: 75% RDF+ 25% RDF through FYM; S3: 75% RDF + 25% RDF through green manure crop (Sunhemp); S4: 50% RDF + 25% RDF through FYM + 25% RDF through green manure crop (Sunhemp). Application of 75% RDF + 25% RDF through green manure crop (S3) manifested significantly superior performance in terms of growth characters of rice Viz., LAI remained on a par with the application of 100% RDF (S1). Whereas CGR, RGR and NAR was significantly highest with all three treatments S3 (2.78) 75% RDF + 25% RDF through green manure crop (sunhemp),S1 (2.61) 100% RDF (chemical fertilizers) and S2 (2.47) 75% RDF + 25% RDF through FYM. Significantly higher grain (6166 and 5586 kg ha-1) and straw yield (7157 and 7143 kg ha-1) was recorded with the application of organic sources with 25% in S3 treatment and 75 % RDF + 25% RDF through green manure crop which was at par with S1 where only (100% RDF) chemical source of fertilizers were used. The lowest grain and straw yields were recorded when nutrient applied with 50% RDF + 25% RDF through FYM + 25% RDF through green manure crop during both the years of study.