Impact of Phosphorus Management in Lowland Paddy Cultivation under Hnahthial District of Mizoram, India

Abstract

Rice is the first most important crop in the Northeast region of India grown under rainfed lowland soils. Due to continuous cultivation, plateauing of yield was observed with the occurrence of phosphorus deficiency in the soils, based on soil test result. A field level demonstration on management of phosphorus and other important soil nutrient was conducted based on soil test result in lowland paddy fields of South Vanlaiphai village under Hnahthial District of Mizoram covering 17 ha. It was observed that T2 treatment with NPKat a rate of 40:60:40 kg ha-1was found to give a better grain yield of 2.01 t/ha as compared to control (T0) and T1 treatment with a yield of 1.02 t/ha and 1.69 t/ha, respectively. Soil health was found to be enhanced with increase in soil physico-chemical properties like soil organic carbon (SOC) content, soil reaction (pH), available nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P2O5) and available potassium (K2O). Soil reaction (pH) and available phosphorus (P2O5) was found to increase in soil of paddy after harvest as compared to initial soil test result. Average value of soil pH, available phosphorus and potassium was found to increase from 5.12 to 6.26, 7.17 to 31.63 kg/ha and 119.2 to 167.15 kg/ha, respectively.