Optimizing Agronomic Practices for Aerobic Rice under Calcareous Soil in Bihar

Abstract

Three experiments were conducted during 2014-19 at Pusa (Samastipur), Bihar, to develop agronomic practices for aerobic rice with respect to the performance of varieties at different dates of sowing, optimizing seed rate and spacing, and nitrogen requirement and its scheduling under the calcareous soil of North Bihar plains. Sowing during the first week of June resulted in significantly higher yield attributes and grain yield. Among varieties, Abhishek recorded significantly higher grain yield except for the hybrid. Weather variables during different growth phases significantly influenced the yield. The hybrid outyielded all the test varieties. Maximum grain and straw yields were recorded with 20 cm spacing and a 35 kg/ha seed rate. Also, the minimum dry weight of weeds was recorded with this spacing and seed rate. Nitrogen at 140 kg/ha in three or four splits along with brown manuring resulted in significantly higher grain and straw yields. Also, the maximum uptake of NPK and B:C ratio was recorded with this treatment.