Assessment of Yield and Nutrient Uptake Patterns in Diverse Rice Varieties at Distinct Growth Stages in the Northern Telangana Zone

Abstract

A detailed evaluation of grain yield, straw yield and nutrient uptake (N, P, and K) in various rice varieties grown in the Northern Telangana Zone (NTZ) was conducted using pooled data from the Kharif (2019 to 2020) and Rabi (2019–2021) seasons. The study categorized rice varieties into extra short (<120 days), short (120–130 days) and medium duration (130–140 days) groups to assess their agronomic performance and nutrient dynamics. Results showed that the extra short-duration variety Rudramma was highly productive, recording superior yields and nutrient uptake compared to other entries in its group. In the short-duration group, Jagtial Rice-1 consistently outperformed others in both seasons, with higher grain yields and greater uptake of N, P, and K. Among the medium-duration group, Karimnagar Samba recorded stable grain and straw yields along with efficient nutrient utilization. The progressive increase of nutrient absorption from maximum tillering to harvest highlights the importance of stage-specific nutrient management to optimize rice productivity. Overall, the findings underscore the significant variation in yield potential and nutrient uptake across rice varieties in NTZ, emphasizing the need for targeted selection and nutrient management practices tailored to variety duration and seasonal conditions. The identified high-yielding, nutrient-efficient varieties hold promise for enhancing rice production sustainability in the region.