Agricultural Reviews
Year : 2000, Volume : 21, Issue : 2
First page : ( 89) Last page : ( 96)
Print ISSN : 0253-1496.

Phosphorus management in rice and rice based cropping systems – A review

Bayan H.C., Lourduraj A. Christopher

Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agticultural University, Coimbatore - 641 003, India.

Abstract

In general, the response of lowland rice to phosphorus application is usually lower than that of other dryland crops including upland rice, primarily because of increased solubility of native P in flooded soils. In the rice-wheat cropping system there is little residual effect of P applied to rice on succeeding wheat crop, whereas rice benefits considerably from the application of P to the preceding wheat crop. Judicious combination of soluble source of P combined with Mussoorie rock phosphate can give better performance, as against the conventional source of P alone in several cropping systems. Application method can offset the effects of P-fixation by soils and increase P-efficiency. Fertiliser placement helps overcome fixation in irrigated upland crops. However for rice, surface application or broadcast and mixing it by puddling was best as it resulted in greater P availability. Split application of phosphorus may be useful in cases where initial supply of the nutrient is sufficient to meet the early requirements of the crops. Addition of organic manures and biofertilisers (Phosphobacteria) along with inorganic P application increased the yield levels considerably, besides maintaining the soil health.

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