Preeti Singh, Vivek Dhama, B.P. Dhyani, Mukesh Kumar and Ravindra Kumar
Abstract
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a major staple food crop in India and a key contributor to food and nutritional security. However, low nutrient-use efficiency and declining soil fertility threaten its sustainable production. Integrated nutrient management (INM), combining inorganic fertilizers with organic amendments and micronutrients, is recognized as an effective strategy to improve crop performance and soil health. A field experiment was conducted during the kharif seasons of 2023 and 2024 to study the effect of INM on nutrient content and uptake in transplanted rice. Treatments included different levels of NPK with or without zinc, pressmud, and NPK consortia. Grain and straw samples were analyzed for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content and uptake. The results revealed that INM significantly improved nutrient content and uptake compared to the control. The treatment 125% NPK + 5 kg Zn recorded the highest nutrient concentrations in grain (N: 1.39%, P: 0.38%, K: 0.38%) and straw (N: 0.48%, P: 0.16%, K: 1.36%). Similarly, nutrient uptake was highest under the same treatment, with total uptake of 91.0 kg ha-¹ nitrogen, 26.7 kg ha-¹ phosphorus, and 83.9 kg ha-¹ potassium, showing a substantial increase over the control (42.1, 10.3, and 55.3 kg ha-¹, respectively). Treatments integrating pressmud and NPK consortia also enhanced nutrient uptake and were superior to 100% NPK alone. The findings suggest that INM not only improves nutrient availability and uptake but also sustains soil fertility and productivity, offering a viable strategy for sustainable rice production.