Oryza Vol. 57 Issue No.

3, 2020 (235-239)
DOI https://doi.org/10.35709/ory.2020.57.3.8
Management of secondary nutrients and micronutrients in rice under rice-
wheat cropping system in acid soil

PB Saha1*, AK Jha2, W Aind3 and K Chaterjee4

1
Zonal Research Station , Dumka, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
2
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sahibganj, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
3
Zonal Research Station, Dumka, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
4
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sahibganj, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
*Corresponding Author e-mail: saha_purnendu@yahoo.com

Received : 1 September 2020 Accepted: 26 September 2020 Published : 30 September 2020

ABSTRACT

A field experiment was conducted in the experimental farm of Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Dumka,
Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand during kharif seasons of 2015, 2016 and 2017 to study the
effects of secondary and micronutrients on rice under rice-wheat cropping system in acid soil. The experimental
findings have been interpreted in terms of grain yield, crop response (%), P, K, S and B -uptake by the crop.
There were seven treatment combinations viz., NPK (RD) [@ (80 : 40 : 20) kg / ha], NPK + FYM [@ 3t / ha],
NPK + lime [@ 4q / ha], NPK + S [@ 30kg / ha], NPK + S + B [@ 200 ppm foliar spray as borax], NPK + S +
B + Si [@ 20 kg K - silicate / ha] and (NPK + FYM + S + B + Si). The experiment was laid out in RBD with three
replications. It was found that the highest grain yield (40.60 q / ha) was obtained with the combined application
of (NPK + FYM + S + B + Si), which also corresponded to the maximum crop response (24.4%). It was also
found that application of micronutrients alone did not have significant effects on S and B-uptakes unless they
were applied in combination with FYM. The highest S-uptake (7.40 kg/ha) and B-uptake (126.03 g/ha) were
recorded with (NPK + FYM + S + B + Si). The highest P-uptake (13.74 kg/ha) and K-uptake (16.11 kg/ha)
were obtained with (NPK + Lime).

Key words: Micronutrients, crop response, P- uptake, K- uptake, S-uptake and B- uptake

INTRODUCTION extremely acidic to strongly acidic (pH<5.5). The rice

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important cereal crop and
a major food grain for more than one third of the
world's population (Zhao et al., 2011). It is an excellent
source of complex carbohydrates, bioactive compounds
which are higher in antioxidant, anthocyanin, phenolic
acids, flavonoids, pro-anthocyanidins, tocopherols,
tocotrienols and has been classified as a functional food
(Sanghamitra et al., 2018). Rice is the main crop of
Jharkhand, cultivated in about 15 lakh ha during kharif
season which is 60 per cent of the net sown area. The
state is characterized by monocropping, low NPK
consumption and fairly poor soil fertility status. About
49 per cent of total geographical area of the state is
agro-ecosystem in Jharkhand is categorized according
to topographical situations viz., upland, medium land
and lowland rainfed ecosystems. Rainfed rice
ecosystems are often hampered by drought and soil
problems (soil acidity) that are associated with low
productivity and with a high incidence of poverty. These
ecosystems have many factors and constraints to rice
production such as poor soil quality, drought, pest and
diseases, and improper cropping sequence practiced
by the farmers (Roy et al., 2011). As far as soil nutrient
status is concerned, about 25, 66, 42 and 45 per cent
soils of total geographical area of the state are low in
organic carbon, available phosphorus, sulphur and
boron, respectively. Intensive cultivation of high yielding

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crop varieties with sub-optimal and imbalanced use of
chemical fertilizers has depleted the inherent soil fertility
resulting in deficiency of secondary and micronutrients,
thereby causing declination or stagnation in crop yield
(John et al., 2001). Results of long-term fertilizer
experiments conducted in India also indicated that
continuous use of high analysis chemical fertilizers
resulted in decrease in rice productivity as well as
deterioration in soil health (Singh et al., 1999) particularly
colonization and sporulation of arbuscular mycorrhizal
fungi (Sahoo et al., 2017). Keeping in view the above
facts, present experiment was conducted at Zonal
Agricultural Research Station, Dumka during kharif
2015, 2016 and 2017 to study the effects of secondary
and micronutrients on rice under rice-wheat cropping
system in acid soil.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A field experiment was conducted at Zonal Research
Station, Dumka, for three years during kharif seasons
of 2015, 2016 and 2017 in sandy clay loam soil having
pH 5.28, organic carbon 0.52%, available nitrogen 318.0
kg/ha, phosphorus 19.4 kg/ha, potassium 176.0 kg/ha,
sulphur 11.77 mg kg-1 and boron 0.54 mg kg-1. The
experiment was laid out in randomized block design
consisting of seven treatments viz., NPK (RD) [@ (80
: 40 : 20) kg / ha], NPK + FYM [@ 3 t / ha], NPK +
lime [@ 4 q / ha], NPK + S [@ 30 kg / ha through
SSP], NPK + S + B [@ 200 ppm foliar spray as borax],
NPK + S +B + Si [@ 20kg K - Silicate / ha] and (NPK
+ FYM +S + B + Si). Boron was sprayed two times -
one at tillering stage and the other at flowering stage.
The experiment was laid out in RBD with three
replications. Rice var. MTU 1010 was taken as the
test crop. Standard agronomic procedures were
followed during the experiment. The pH of soil was
measured in 1:2.5 (Soil: Water) suspension with the help
of glass electrode digital pH meter as described by
Jackson (1973). Organic C was estimated by chromic
acid wet digestion method given by Walkley and Black
(1934). Available soil N was estimated by alkaline
potassium permanganate method (Subbiah and Asija,
1956). Available soil P was determined by Bray P1
method (Bray and Kurtz, 1945) as described by Jackson
(1973) using double beam spectrophotometer. Available
potassium was determined by flame photometer
following neutral normal ammonium acetate method
(Hanway and Heidal, 1952). Available S in soil was
estimated by using 0.15% CaCl 2 (Williams and
Steinbergs, 1959) and total S in grain by diacid mixture
(HNO3:HClO4:: 4:1). Turbidimetric method of Chesnin
and Yien (1951) was followed to determine S-contents
in soil and plant extract. Hot water-soluble B was
extracted from soil using 0.02M CaCl2 (Airken et al.,
1987). Boron content in soil and plant sample was
determined by spectrophotometer following
Azomethine-H method (John et al., 1975). The crop
was harvested and sun dried, then total produce was
weighed and recorded as total biomass. The produce
was then threshed and grains were separated, dried,
and weighed. Grain yield was adjusted to a moisture
concentration of 0.14 g H2O g-1 fresh weight (Raja et
al., 2014; Munda et al., 2016) .
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Grain yield
The grain yield of rice was significantly influenced by
different nutrient levels. The highest grain yield (40.60q/
ha) was recorded with the combined application of
(NPK + FYM +S + B + Si), which also corresponded
to the highest crop response (24.4%). The highest B:C

Table 1. Grain yield of rice and crop response to different nutrient levels.
Treatments Grain yield of rice (q/ha) Pooled mean Crop response(%) B: C Ratio
2015 2016 2017
NPK(RD) 33.33 31.87 32.70 32.63 -- --
NPK + FYM 36.73 34.70 35.30 35.58 9.0 1.07: 1
NPK + Lime 37.47 35.43 36.13 36.34 11.4 1.27: 1
NPK + S(as SSP) 36.40 34.30 34.90 35.20 7.9 1.25: 1
NPK + S + B 37.03 34.67 36.10 35.93 10.1 1.18: 1
NPK + S + B + Si 37.51 35.30 37.63 36.82 12.8 1.16: 1
NPK + FYM + S + B + Si 41.70 39.63 40.47 40.60 24.4 1.17: 1
CD at 5% 4.82 4.70 4.17 4.56

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 Oryza Vol. 57 Issue No. 3, 2020 (235-239)

ratio (1.27: 1) was recorded with (NPK+ Lime). Data
depicted in Fig. 1 indicates per cent increase in grain
yield (pooled) was influenced by different nutrient levels
over NPK alone and it can be clearly observed that 9
to 24 per cent yield advantage was obtained due to
inclusion of FYM, lime, sulphur, boron and silicon over
NPK alone. Positive effect of recommended dose of
NPK through chemical fertilizers along with FYM,
sulphur, boron and silicon on grain yield of rice
throughout the experimentation period might be due to
the balanced nutrition which ultimately resulted in
increased uptake of essential plant nutrients by the rice
grain. FYM being an organic source of plant nutrients
might have improved the physical, chemical and
biological properties of soil which resulted in the highest
grain yield (Gomma et al., 2015). The increase in grain
yield may also be attributed to the effect of S on cell
division and photosynthesis as well as role of B in
viability, germination and growth of pollen tubes (Jat et
al., 2008; Yeasmin et al., 2013; Sharma et al., 2019).
The oxidizing power of rice roots and accompanying
tolerance to high levels of Fe and Mn in acid soils were
found to be very dependent on Si- nutrition (Havlin et
al., 2003). This might be the reason as to why Si-
application favoured higher grain yield.

Table 2. P-uptake (kg/ha) by rice grains as influenced by different nutrient levels.

Treatments P-uptake by rice grain (kg/ha) Pooled mean
2015 2016 2017
NPK(RD) 10.59 10.06 11.28 10.65
NPK + FYM 12.98 11.91 12.47 12.40
NPK + Lime 14.36 13.17 13.80 13.74
NPK + S(as SSP) 11.48 10.71 11.19 11.62
NPK + S+ B 10.53 9.67 10.65 10.26
NPK + S+ B + Si 11.49 10.38 10.95 10.91
NPK + FYM + S + B + Si 12.66 11.65 12.71 12.33
CD at 5% 1.52 1.54 1.49 1.60
Initial soil: pH- 5.10; Organic C (%) - 0.52; Available N(kg/ha) - 318.0; Available P (kg/ha) - 19.4; Available K (kg/ha) - 176.0;
Available B - 0.54mg kg-1

Table 3. K-uptake (kg/ha) by rice grain as influenced by different nutrient levels.

Treatments K-uptake by rice grain (kg/ha) Pooled mean
2015 2016 2017
NPK(RD) 13.30 12.62 13.15 13.02
NPK + FYM 15.80 14.75 14.29 14.94
NPK + Lime 16.11 15.88 16.37 16.11
NPK + S(as SSP) 16.99 14.84 14.63 15.49
NPK + S + B 15.65 14.56 14.22 14.81
NPK + S + B + Si 15.54 14.30 15.10 14.98
NPK + FYM + S + B + Si 15.94 15.01 14.69 15.21
CD at 5% 2.06 1.93 1.67 1.88
Table 4. S-uptake (kg/ha) by rice grain as influenced by different nutrient levels
Treatments S-uptake by rice grain (kg/ha) Pooled mean
2015 2016 2017
NPK(RD) 4.31 4.09 4.06 4.15
NPK + FYM 5.48 5.17 5.80 5.48
NPK + Lime 4.90 4.54 4.73 4.72
NPK + S (as SSP) 5.77 5.63 5.81 5.73
NPK + S + B 5.58 5.35 6.22 5.72
NPK + S + B + Si 6.05 5.63 6.13 5.94
NPK + FYM + S + B + Si 7.57 7.10 7.52 7.40
CD at 5% 0.94 0.93 1.14 1.02

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Nutrient management in rice Saha et al.

Table 5. B-uptake (g/ha) by rice grain as influenced by different nutrient levels.

Treatments B-uptake by rice grain (g/ha) Pooled mean
2015 2016 2017
NPK (RD) 77.06 63.81 65.30 68.72
NPK + FYM 115.97 85.12 88.57 96.53
NPK + Lime 100.23 66.77 70.10 79.01
NPK + S (as SSP) 99.01 69.65 70.54 79.72
NPK + S + B 103.91 80.83 83.08 89.26
NPK + S + B + Si 119.84 91.67 96.74 102.71
NPK + FYM + S + B + Si 141.19 117.27 119.76 126.03
CD at 5% 19.33 13.10 15.10 16.06

Phosphorus, potassium, sulphur and boron
uptake
Application of secondary and micronutrients alone did
not have significant effects on their respective uptakes
unless they were applied in combination with FYM
(Table 2, 3, 4 and 5). The highest S-uptake (7.40 kg/
ha) and B-uptake (126.03 g/ha) were recorded with
(NPK + FYM +S + B + Si). Application of organic
matter to soil might have enhanced sulphur
mineralization, thereby resulting in higher S-uptake.
Availability of boron in soil is greatly influenced by
organic matter content, which holds boron in a complex
form, thereby preventing from leaching loss and thus
rendering it more available to plant. This is reflected in
sharp increase in B-uptake due to B-application along
with FYM as compared to B-application without FYM.
The highest P-uptake (13.74 kg/ha) and K-uptake (16.11
kg/ha) were recorded with (NPK + Lime). Liming
reduces soil acidity and releases phosphorus from its
fixed forms (i.e., Fe and Al-phosphates) and thus
increases P-availability in the root zone. Liming of
sandy clay loam soil, mostly dominated by low activity
clays (i.e., 1:1 type) and also characterized by mixed
mineralogical make-up, as in the case of given
experimental site, results in increase in CEC because
of their pH-dependent charge. This leads to an increase
in quantity/intensity (Q/I) ratio. This type of soil is also
characterized by low Q/I values. Thus, in such soils, a
small increase in exchangeable K (Q-factor) produces
a large increase in soil solution K+ (I-factor), thereby
leading to greater K-uptake by plant roots. The findings
are in accordance with Imtiaz et al. (2010), Siddika et
al. (2016) and Sharma et al. (2019).
CONCLUSION
On the basis of present experiment, it can be concluded
that application of NPK along with FYM, sulphur, boron
and silicon resulted in significantly highest grain yield
of rice (40.60 q/ha), which also corresponded to the
maximum crop response (24.4%). It was observed that
application of secondary and micronutrients alone did
not have significant influence on S and B-uptakes unless
they were applied in combination with FYM. The
highest S-uptake (7.40kg/ha) and B-uptake (126.03g/
ha) were recorded with (NPK + FYM + S + B + Si).

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