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PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
In Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India, rice productivity is low due to traditional long duration variety (C-14-8) cultivation on poorly fertile soils with minimal or no fertilizer use due to heavy rains. In this context, ability of rice hybrids and high yielding varieties (HYV) under varying nitrogen supplies to adopt and enhance rice productivity and profits. Field study was made during 2015 rainy season in split plot design with three replications. Treatments formed by combination of 5 rice cultivars (3 hybrids: KRH-4, 28P09 & DRRH-3 and two HYV: WGL-14 and CARI Dhan-6) in main plot and four nitrogen (N) rates (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg/ha) as sub-plot treatments. Best performing cultivars (KRH-4 hybrid and WGL-14 variety) and nitrogen rate (100 kg) were evaluated in 2016 and 2018 seasons. Results (2015 season) have indicated that KRH-4 and 28P09 hybrids have 39.2 and 28.2% yield improvements over local HYV CARI Dhan-6 (2.09 t/ha). Above higher yields of hybrids with similar cost of cultivation as that of a variety have brought 3.16-4.52 times more profits. Grain yield exhibited linear response to nitrogen up to 150 kg rate, however, its application beyond 100 kg was not economically rewarding. Rice cultivar and nitrogen interaction indicated that KRH-4 hybrid was suitable for both no, low and high N inputs. Rice hybrid ‘28P09’ required N fertilization (100 kg) for its potential performance. Confirmatory trails of KRH-4 for two seasons (2016 & 2018) have shown 17.1% yield advantage over HYV ‘WGL-14’ over 3 seasons at 100 kg N rate. The study proved that hybrids are better candidates for Island ecosystem where response to N fertilization is rainfall dependent and soils have inherent fertility.