Abstract
Field experiments with medicinal rice Njavara were conducted at Cropping Systems Research Centre, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala during summer of 2007 and 2008. The experimental design was split plot with three replications. The treatments consisted of four establishment techniques viz., System of Rice Intensification SRI (M1), Integrated Crop Establishment Method (ICM) (M2), Package of practices (PoP) (M3) of Kerala Agricultural University and Conventional Management Practices (CMP) (M4) in main plot. Three nutrient sources viz., (1) organic, 2) integrated use of organic and inorganic, 3) chemical fertilizers only) were used under different establishment techniques. Root dry matter production was determined at weekly intervals and plant nutrients uptake was determined by calculating from the product of dry matter, straw dry weight, grain yield and percentage of nutrients. Results revealed that at early stages (4-6 WAT/WAS) (Weeks after transplanting/Weeks after sowing), root dry matter production hill-1 was in the order of SRI > ICM > CMP > PoP which changed to SRI > ICM > PoP > CMP from 7th week onwards. Maximum root dry matter (at 9th WAS/WAT) was recorded in SRI (0.51/0.50 g.hill-1 in 2007/2008). The total nutrients uptake (N, P, K, Fe, Mn and Zn) in conventional management practices was significantly higher than other establishment techniques. Among the nutrient sources, higher total (N, P, K, Fe, Mn and Zn) uptake by crop was recorded under integrated nutrient source than organic and inorganic sources.
Highlights
Rice is an important crop and will continue to play a vital role in food security for millions of people in India
The treatments consisted of four establishment techniques viz., System of Rice Intensification SRI (M1), Integrated Crop Establishment Method (ICM) (M2), Package of practices (PoP) (M3) of Kerala Agricultural University and Conventional Management Practices (CMP) (M4) in main plot
The present study was to investigate the developmental phenology of Njavara root growth and its nutrient uptake under different establishment techniques and nutrient sources
Summary
Rice is an important crop and will continue to play a vital role in food security for millions of people in India. The future of Indian food security and foreign exchange through rice exports will largely depend on desired production and productivity. The water and nutrient uptake ability of plants highly depends on the root architecture [2], while the root system directly affects the amount of water available to crop. Most of crops largely rely on stored water into the soil profile. The deep extensive root enhances water utilization in the deeper soil profile, which is considered to be an important trait of drought resistance in plants. The present study was to investigate the developmental phenology of Njavara root growth and its nutrient uptake under different establishment techniques and nutrient sources
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