Effect of nutrient levels and schedule of nutrient application on the grain quality of upland rice intercropped in coconut

Field experiment was conducted at Coconut Research Balaramapuram, during Kharif 2017 to study the effect of nutrient levels and schedule of application on the quality parameters of upland rice intercropped in coconut. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design (RBD) with four different nutrient levels and four different schedules of nutrient application. Quality parameters like crude protein and starch content were significantly influenced by nutrient levels. The crude protein content was found to increase with increase in N level, however starch content was found to increase up to 70 kg N and 35 kg K ha-1 and after that a decline in trend was observed.  The highest crude protein content (8.38 per cent) was recorded with highest nutrient level, NPK @ 120:30:60 kg ha-1.  However, lower nutrient level, NPK @ 70:30:35 kg ha-1 recorded higher starch content (85.03 per cent).  Among the schedule of nutrient application, N applied in three equal splits (15 days after sowing (DAS), active tillering and panicle initiation stage), P as basal and K in two equal splits (15 DAS and panicle initiation stage) along with foliar application of 0.2 per cent zinc sulphate and 0.04 per cent sodium borate at 45 DAS recorded the highest crude protein (7.50 per cent) and starch content (84.17 per cent). The study clearly indicated that the increased level of N and K increased the protein content due to the active role of N and K in protein synthesis. However, high rate of N application decreased the starch content. In addition to the application of NPK, foliar nutrition of zinc sulphate and sodium borate at 45 DAS considerably improved the quality of grain by increasing the starch and protein content.