Kannappan M., Baradhan G., Manimaran S. and Venkatakrishnan D.
Abstract
This research investigates the impact of different nitrogen application strategies, organic input supplementation and foliar feeding on the yield dynamics and cost-benefit performance of rice cultivation in the Cauvery Deltaic region. Nitrogen, as a crucial nutrient, significantly influences rice growth, yield, with optimal application rates enhancing yield attributes and overall productivity. The experiment laid out in RBD with nine treatments, among that, T1 - 100 % recommended dose fertilizer (120:40:40 kg ha-1) significantly recorded the highest no. of productive tillers (354 m-2), no. of filled grains per panicle (105.68), grain yield (4978 kg ha-1) and straw yield (7126 kg ha-1). In economics of gross return ( 1,06,225), net return (55,376) and B: C ratio (2.09) registered the highest in the treatment application of T6 - 75 % RDN through urea + 25 % RDN through urban compost + 100 % of P and K + foliar application of ZnSO4 @ 0.5 % and boron @ 0.3 % on 25 and 50 DAT. Results indicate that judicious nitrogen application coupled with appropriate organic amendments and foliar nutrition, optimizes the yield and ensures economic viability, while mitigating environmental impacts associated with excessive fertilizer use.