Effect of farmyard manure, chemical and biofertilizers on yield and quality of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and soil properties.

Results obtained in field experiments conducted on Inseptisol during two consequtive kharif seasons of 1993 and 1994 at Kanpur with rice cultivar Saket-4 revealed that grain and straw yields of rice increased significantly with increasing levels of NPK fertilizers. Application of FYM @ 10 t ha−1 and blue green algae inoculation either alone or in combination, increased the economic yield. The average increase in the grain yield due to BGA was 0.24 t ha−1 (7.5%) while combined use of FYM and BGA showed the increase of 0.60 t ha−1 (19.2%). There was an economy of 30 kg N, 15 kg P and 15 kg K due to FYM and BGA in first crop of rice. Content and uptake of N, P and K in grain showed increasing trends as a result of NPK fertilizers, FYM and BGA inoculation either alone or in combination. Quality parameters like hulling percentage, milling percentage, protein and amylose contents also increased due to use of these inputs. At post-harvest stage of second year rice crop, there was a little variation in soil pH as affected by treatments. Addition of FYM and blue green algae showed positive changes in organic carbon and N content of the soil. Available P and K content also showed increasing tendency due to the treatments. Highest economic yield of the crop was noted in the treatment combination of N120P60K60 and FYM + BGA.