Response of Rice to Graded Levels of Nitrogen and Sulphur in Temperate Kashmir
Mohammad Rafiq Khan
Faculty of Agriculture, Wadura-193201, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Jammu & Kashmir, India.
Waseem Raja
Faculty of Agriculture, Wadura-193201, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Jammu & Kashmir, India.
Tanveer Ahmad Ahngar *
Advanced Research Station for Saffron & Temperate Seed Spices, Pampore-12121, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Jammu & Kashmir, India.
Raaqib Rasool Parray
Faculty of Agriculture, Wadura-193201, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Jammu & Kashmir, India.
Aadil Akbar Wani
Faculty of Agriculture, Wadura-193201, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Jammu & Kashmir, India.
Zahida Rashid
Dryland Agriculture Research Station, Rangreth -121132, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Jammu & Kashmir, India.
Raies Ahmad Bhat
KVK Kupwara-193222, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Jammu & Kashmir, India.
Dhamini Patyal
Faculty of Agriculture, Chatha-180009, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir, India.
Bisma Nazir
Faculty of Agriculture, Wadura-193201, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Jammu & Kashmir, India.
Anayath Afzal Samoon
Faculty of Agriculture, Wadura-193201, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Jammu & Kashmir, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Nitrogen is one of the most important plant nutrients and plays a vital role in plant photosynthesis and biomass production. Increasing panicle numbers in per unit area is the main factor of yield increment as a result of nitrogen application. The present study assesses the Response of rice to graded levels of nitrogen and sulphur in temperate Kashmir. A field experiment titled Response of rice to graded levels of nitrogen and sulphur in temperate Kashmir was conducted at the Crop Research Farm of the Division of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher‑e‑Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir during the Kharif 2021 season. The experimental soil was silt clay loam with neutral pH; it was deficient in available nitrogen, medium in phosphorus, potassium, and organic carbon, but sufficient in sulphur. A factorial Randomised Complete Block Design with three replications was used, comprising two factors: nitrogen at 0, 60, 80 and 120 kg ha⁻¹, and sulphur at 0, 15, 30 and 45 kg ha⁻¹. Significant improvements were observed in dry‑matter accumulation, tiller count, nitrogen and sulphur uptake, agronomic efficiency, grain protein content, and protein productivity across treatments. The highest dry‑matter accumulation and tiller count were recorded under 120 kg N ha⁻¹ and 45 kg S ha⁻¹, though responses at 80 kg N ha⁻¹ were statistically similar. A significant interaction between 80 kg N ha⁻¹ and 30 kg S ha⁻¹ enhanced agronomic efficiency. The study concluded that balanced application of nitrogen and sulphur significantly enhanced rice growth, nutrient uptake, agronomic efficiency, and grain protein content.
Keywords: Rice, dry matter accumulation, tiller count, nitrogen, sulphur, interaction