Crop Science and Agriculture

A field investigation carried out at agricultural and horticultural research station, Bhavikere, UAHS, Shivamogga during Kharif 2017, to study the infl uence of integrated nutrient management practices on growth and yield of aerobic rice. The texture of soil was sandy loam having acidic pH with organic carbon of 0.40 g kg-1, available nitrogen 220.80 kg ha-1, phosphorous 33.90 kg ha-1 and potassium 163.60 kg ha-1. Th e variety used was MAS 946-1 (Sharada). Th e experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with ten treatments replicated thrice. The treatments comprised of 100% RDF and 75% RDF with diff erent levels of FYM and vermin compost. Among diff erent treatment combinations application of 100% RDF+100% vermin compost (N Equivalent)+PGPR recorded signifi cantly higher growth parameters like number of tillers (34.2), leaf area (1396.9 cm2), dry matter production (89.04 g), yield attributes like number of productive tillers per hill (16.32), panicle length (23.52 cm), panicle weight (2.68 g), number of fi lled grains (87.0), grain yield (3868.0 kg ha-1) straw yield (4225.72 kg ha-1) and total nutrient uptake of nitrogen (93.13 kg ha-1), phosphorus (25.05 kg ha-1) and potassium (92.63 kg ha- 1). Th e yield increment was 27% over the control. Higher gross returns and net returns were registered with 100% RDF+100% vermi compost (N Equivalent)+PGPR (Rs. 81,228, Rs. 45,175) whereas, higher benefi t cost ratio (2.87) was obtained with application of 75% RDF+25% vermin compost (N Equivalent)+PGPR.