Yield, quality and economic response of black-husked scented rice to different nutrient management options

Abstract

The demand for black-husked scented rice is increasing due to its superior nutritional quality and distinctive grain characteristics. Three black-husked scented rice cultivars, namely Kola Joha, Kalonunia and Chakhao Poireiton, were evaluated under inorganic, integrated  and organic nutrient management systems in a split-plot design at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Jaguli, Nadia, West Bengal, India during kharif seasons of 2018 and 2019 to identify an appropriate nutrient management strategy for improving productivity, grain quality and economic returns.  Kola Joha had the highest grain yield (3.19 t ha-1), and slight lodging tendency (score 2.3). Although Chakhao Poireiton recorded higher net income (Rs. 55400 ha-1), B:C ratio (2.14) and it has mild aroma (score 1.00). Chemical fertilizer-based nutrition  recorded the grain yield of 2.67 t ha-1, with the highest net return (Rs. 49,000 ha-1) and B:C ratio (2.10). Integrated nutrient management with cow dung manure @ 5 t ha-1 + N30P15K15  and cow dung manure @ 5 t ha-1 + P15K15 + Leaf Colour Chart-based N @ 10 kg ha-1 at each stage  produced higher grain yields of 2.70 t ha-1 and 2.67 t ha-1, respectively, while improving HRR (58.1 and 58.9%) and aroma (score 1.67 and 1.73). Thus, combined application of both organic and inorganic sources offered an effective approach for sustaining productivity, while enhancing grain quality and soil fertility of traditional black-husked scented rice cultivars in the Gangetic alluvial region during the kharif season.