Varieties and phosphorus fertilization effects on productivity and profitability of direct-seeded upland rice (Oryza sativa) in Eastern India

A field experiment was conducted during rainy (kharif) season of 2016 at Hazaribag, Jharkhand to study the effect of varieties and phosphorus (P) applications on grain yield and economics of direct-seeded upland rice (Oryza sativa L.). The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications, keeping 3 rice varieties, viz. ‘Vandana’, ‘Anjali’ and ‘CR Dhan 40’, in the main plots and 7 different P rates. viz., 0 kg/ha, phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (PSB) + arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), 13.2 kg P/ha through single super phosphate (SSP), 13.2 kg P/ha through SSP + PSB + AMF, 26.4 kg P/ha through SSP, 26.4 kg P/ha through SSP + PSB + AMF and 39.6 kg P/ha through SSP in the sub-plots. The results revealed that yield attributes, viz. effective tillers/m2 (312), filled grains/panicle (130), panicle weight (27.9 g), 1,000-grain weight (22.5 g), and grain (3.91 t/ha) and straw yields (6.17 t/ha) were higher in ‘CR Dhan 40’ compared to ‘Anjali’ (259, 115, 2.04 g, 20.4 g, 3.33 t/ha and 5.64 t/ ha respectively) and ‘Vandana’ (252, 108, 1.78 g, 19.9 g, 3.12 t/ha and 5.53 t/ha respectively). Similarly, application of 39.6 kg P/ha through SSP recorded the highest values for yield attributes, grain (4.25 t/ha) and straw yields (6.79 t/ha), and was at par with 26.4 kg P/ha through SSP + PSB + AMF. Net returns and B:C ratio were also recorded the highest in ‘CR Dhan 40’ with 39.6 kg P/ha through SSP, which was at par with 26.4 kg P/ha through SSP + PSB + AMF. Thus, integrated application of 26.4 kg P/ha through SSP along with PSB and AMF in ‘CR Dhan 40’ can enhance grain yield and net returns of direct-seeded upland rice in Jharkhand.