INFLUENCE OF ESTABLISHMENT METHODS, WATER REGIMES AND INTEGRATED NITROGEN MANAGEMENT ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF RABI RICE

Traditional rice cultivation with huge water consumption and judicious fertilizer application had a gloomy effect on environment. Rice although being an important staple crop, its cultivation has become difficult in light of climate change. Sustainable strategies for rice cultivation under climate change scenario is gaining importance and factors which improve the economic yield and reduce the inputs has gained much importance. To identify the best sustainable method in rice cultivation, the present study was conducted at College farm, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural Universityduring rabi 2020-21 and 2021-22 to study the effect of establishment methods and water management practices on growth andyield of rabi rice. The experiment consisted of establishment methods with water management as Vertical plots viz. M1: NormalTransplanting; M2: Direct seeded rice with drum seeder; M3: Normal Transplanting with alternate wetting and drying water management at depletion of 5 cm; M4: Direct seeded rice with alternate wetting and drying water management at depletion of 5 cm, and five nitrogen management practices as Horizontal plots viz. N1:100% RDF; N2:75% RDN+25% N through biogas slurry; N3 :75% RDN+25% N through Azolla compost ; N4:75% RDN+25% N through vermicompost; N5:75% RDN+ 25%N through poultrymanure. The results revealed that among the main plots, rice established by direct seeded rice with alternate wetting and dryingwater management at depletion of 5 cm and application of 75% RDN+ 25%N through poultry manure among the sub treatmentsperformed better over other treatments by recording higher plant height, dry matter accumulation, LAI and no. of tillers per m2.Significantly higher grain and straw yield of rice was obtained with the combination of direct seeded rice with alternate wetting and drying water management at depletion of 5 cm and 75% RDN+ 25%N through poultry manure.