Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Soil Fertility and Yield of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) under the System of Rice Intensification in the Indian Subtropics

Field experiments were conducted at Water Management Research Station, Begopara, Nadia, WB, India, during the rabi seasons of 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 to find out the integrated effect of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), farmyard manure (FYM) and zinc (Zn) under the system of rice intensification (SRI) techniques using eight treatments on the fertility changes in soil. The results revealed that the amounts of organic carbon and available N content in soil were found to maintain the highest fertility status with the highest yield in T-6 (NPK + FYM 10 tha(-1) + Zn 5 kgha(-1)) and gave the highest N uptake (55.98 kgha(-1)). The availability of P decreased with the increased level of Zn application and gave the highest P uptake (23.52 kgha(-1)) in the treatment T-5 (NPK + FYM 10 tha(-1)). The highest Zn content (4.71 mgkg(-1)) was recorded in the treatment T7 (NPK + FYM 10 tha(-1) + Zn 10 kgha(-1)).