Effect of irrigation, fertilizer package and planting density on growth and yield of Boro rice (var. BRRI dhan28)

An experiment was conducted at farmer’s field at Pirgonj, Tharkurgaon, during February to May, 2003 with
a view to find out the effect of irrigation and fertilizer management along with planting density on growth
and yield of boro rice (BRRI dhan28). The treatments were two watering viz., continuous standing water and
irrigation at 3 days after water disappearance (DAWD), two fertilizer packages viz., BRRI recommended
fertilizer dose (urea 220 kg, TSP 120, MP 85 kg, gypsum 60 kg and zinc sulphate 10 kg ha-1
) and soil test
based fertilizer (urea 277 kg, TSP 198, MP 111 kg, gypsum 60 kg and zinc sulphate 10 kg ha-1
) application
and 3 planting densities (27, 33 and 68 plants m-2
). The experiment was laid out in a split-split plot design
with 3 replications. Irrigation was assigned in the main plot, fertilizer in sub plot and planting density in the
sub-sub plot. Continuous standing water significantly influenced effective tiller production, number of grains
panicle-1
, 1000-grain weight, grain and biological yield compared to irrigation at 3 DAWD. Grain yield in
both the water management was increased by about 11% in soil test based fertilizer application compared to
BRRI recommended fertilizer dose. Grain yield and biological yield were significantly higher both at 27 and
33 plants m-2
irrespective of fertilizer and water management. The number of effective tillers, grains panicle1
and harvest index were the higher when planting density was 27 m-2
. Total cost of production was higher in
continuous standing water culture compared to irrigation at 3 DAWD irrespective of fertilizer management.
It is concluded that irrigation at 3 DAWD and soil test based fertilizer management with 27 plants m-2
is
economically viable for boro rice cultivation in light textured soils under Pirganj (Thakurgaon).