Nutrient supply is the most limiting factor next to the water for crop production. Sustaining rice production has become a great challenge, particularly in areas where rice productivity declines in spite of following recommended nutrient management practices. Nutrient management by integrating organic sources of nutrients along with inorganic fertilizers may play an important role in improving and sustaining rice productivity moreover, chemical fertilizers will play a major role as these contribute about 50% to the increase in food grain production for ever increasing population of our country. Successful nutrient management can optimize crop yields, increase profitability and minimizes nutrient losses. Organic fertilizer improves physical and biological activities of soil but they have comparatively low in nutrient content, so larger quantity is required for plant growth. However, inorganic fertilizer is usually immediately and fast containing all necessary nutrients that are directly accessible for plants. But continuous use of inorganic fertilizers alone causes soil organic matter: degradation, soil acidity and environmental pollution. So the integrated nutrient management system is an alternative system for the sustainable and cost-effective management of soil fertility by combined apply of inorganic with organic materials resulting in rising soil fertility and productivity without affecting environment. Treatment T6 increased the net photosynthesis rate, total biomass, grain yield, and amylose content by 23%, 90%, 95%, and 10%, respectively, compared with control. This increment in growth was the result of 14%, 19%, and 20% higher total root length, root surface area, root volume, and root diameter, respectively. Improvements in these attributes further enhanced the grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency of rice.The application of organic manure alone or along with bio-fertilizers inoculation significantly improved the N, P, K and S uptake by rice over control. However maximum improvement in soil health related to available nutrient status, soil microorganism population was observed in organic nitrogen sources alone or along with bio-fertilizers. The 50% organic fertilizer and 50% CF led to increased NPK availability and rice yields over the 100% CF treatment, reducing CF usage and leading for sustainable agriculture. This review provides a sustainable nutrient management strategy to improve crop yield with high nutrient use efficiency.

Download this article as