Water management Soil and Nutrients Pests and diseases

There are 16 elements that are essential for a rice plant to grow and develop properly. Can be grouped into macro-elements (needed in bigger quantity) and micro-elements ( in trace or small quantity).

Macro-elements Needed by plants in large amounts, often more than 0.1% of plant’s dry weight. carbon hydrogen oxygen nitrogen phosphorus potassium calcium magnesium sulfur

Micro-elements Needed by plants in trace amounts. iron manganese copper zinc molybdenum boron chlorine

Nitrogen (N) Promotes rapid plant growth and improves grain yield and grain quality. N is generally the most limiting nutrient as it is needed in large amounts and is readily lost as a gas (volatilized) and by leaching (washing out of the root zone).

Rule of thumb: Apply 40–60 kg fertilizer N per ha. The fixed time approach The fixed-time approach provides a recommendation for the total fertilizer N requirement (kg/ha) and a plan for the splitting and timing of applications in accordance with crop growth stage, cropping season, variety used, and crop establishment method. Divide total fertilizer N recommendations into 2–4 split applications.

Apply fertilizer N after 14 DAT or 21 DAS based on the crop’s need for supplemental N, as determined by the leaf N status.

Phosphorus (P) Is essential for root development, tillering, early flowering, and ripening. It is especially deficient in sandy soils with low organic matter contents, in very acid soils and in alkaline soils..

Potassium (K) Essential for root growth and plant vigor. It also helps against lodging and improves the crop resistance to diseases. Become yield limiting in high yielding rice systems where most of the straw is removed because rice straw is rich in K.

Apply all fertilizer P (20-40 kg P 2 O 5 per ha) near transplanting or sowing. Apply fertilizer K twice — 50% near transplanting or sowing and 50% at early panicle initiation. When fertilizer K rates are relatively low (for example, 30 kg K 2 O per ha), all fertilizer K can be applied near transplanting or sowing.

MARDI Fertilizer recommendations for rice Total amount per hectare: N kg (add 15% for main season crop) P 2 O kg K 2 O – 80 kg Nitrogen – 4 splits: 3 leaf –(15 DAP) – 20% Active vegetative growth – (30-35 DAP) – 31% Panicle initiation - (50-55 DAP) – 35% Panicle emergence – (70-75 DAP) – 14%