Effect of organic nutrient management on yield, quality, nutrient uptake and economics of aromatic rice (Oryza sativa) in hill zone of West Bengal

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) season of 2021 at the Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalimpong, West Bengal, to study the response of 2 aromatic rice cultivars (‘Kalture’ and ‘Kalonunia’) under 4 organic nutrient management (cowdung manure @ 5 t/ha, vermicompost @ 1.5 t/ha, mustardcake @ 0.5 t/ha, and leaf mould @ 1 t/ha). ‘Kalonunia’ exhibited greater tiller production (435/m2 ), leaf-area index (3.08) and dry-matter accumulation (452 g/m2 ) at 63 days after planting (DAT), and ‘Kalture’ showed taller plants (137.1 cm) and lodging susceptibility (score 4.0) at maturity. ‘Kalonunia’ performed significantly better in terms of grain yield (3.32 t/ha), non-lodging habit, protein content (7.25%) and net income (`57,043/ha) than ‘Kalture’ cultivar. Although the application of vermicompost @ 1.5 t/ha resulted in the maximum grain yield (3.22 t/ha) and nutrient uptake (44.6 kg N, 16.4 kg P and 39.0 kg K/ha), mustard-cake @ 0.5 t/ha could be an alternative option owing to near-maximum grain yield (3.11 t/ha) with high protein content (7.1%), medium aroma (score 1.7), maximum net income (`51,040/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (2.01) in hill zone of West Bengal.