Introduction:

• Rice crop needs seventeen essential nutrients. Out of these

Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Iron, Manganese, Zinc and

Copper are considered important in rice nursery.

• These nutrients are supplied to rice crop through the soil in the form

of fertilizers and manures. Providing sufficient amount of nutrients

at appropriate time using appropriate method is a crucial factor in

rice nursery management.

• Nutrients should be supplied considering the rice variety, soil and

agro-climatic factors. Knowledge of common visual deficiency

symptoms is also essential for proper nutrient management in rice.

Visible deficiency symptoms of various

nutrients in rice crop are:

A. Nitrogen

1.Older leaves become orange yellow

and die from the tip downwards.

2.The new leaves are thin, short and

stiff. Roots are few in number, thin and

elongated.

3.Nitrogen deficiency reduces the plant

height and number of tillers.

Deficiency Symptoms of Nitrogen in Rice Crop

Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms in Rice

B. Phosphorus.

1.Plant growth is stunted and roots are thin,

long and brown in color.

2.Older leaves turn purple and pinkish

spots are observed on stem.

C. Potassium

1.Plant is short and droopy and leaf tips

and margins are scorched and wavy.

2.Upper leaves turn dark green and

develop dark brown spots.

3.Interveinal chlorosis is observed on

middle leaves.

Deficiency Symptoms Of Phosphorus

Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms in Rice

Deficiency Symptoms Of Potassium

D. Iron:

1.Deficiency symptoms first appear on second leaf, 7 to 10 days

after germination.

2.Young leaves appear chlorotic and wither off. Interveinal chlorosis

appears. If deficiency is prolonged the leaf apex dies.

Deficiency Symptoms Of Iron

Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms in Rice

Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms in Rice

E. Manganese

1.Deficiency appears in seedlings at 3 leaf

stage. Where chlorotic yellow colored

spots)occurs.

2.A patch of green and chlorotic cells appear

away from third leaf base. Apex and margin

of affected leaves wither and dry off.

3.In prolonged deficiency, patches increase

in number and size, forming large irregular

lesions and chlorotic stripping.

Deficiency Symptoms of Manganese

D.

F. Zinc

1.Zinc deficiency in rice is more serious

in low lying fields with high water table in

rainy season. Nursery should be avoided

in such areas.

2.Older leaves become reddish brown

and roots become brown and sparse.

Base of growing leaves become

chlorotic.

3.Scattered brown spots are seen which

extend over whole leaf lamina.

Deficiency Symptoms of Zinc

Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms in Rice

G. Copper:

1. Leaves become chlorotic near the tip. Chlorosis extends

downward along both sides of mid-rib, followed by dark brown

necrosis of the leaf tip. The new leaves remain rolled and appear

needle shaped.

Deficiency Symptoms Of Copper

Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms in Rice

A. Modified Mat Nursery:

1.Modified mat nursery needs 4 cubic meter soil mixture for every 100

square meter nursery area.

2.Soil Mixture consists of 7 parts of soil and 2 parts well decomposed

chicken manure and 1 part of fresh or charred rice hull.

3.Lack of nitrogen is indicated by yellowing of seedling after 7 days

which can be corrected by spraying 0.5 % urea solution.

Fertilizer Application in Different Nurseries

B . Dapog Nursery

1.100 m2 nursery should be applied 0.5 to 1 kg of nitrogen, 0.5 kg

phosphorous and 0.5 kg of potash fertilizers.

2.FYM must be applied @ 250 kg/100 m2 area during bed preparation.

C. Dry and Wet Bed Nursery

1.Apply FYM @ 2 kg/m2 nursery bed area before bed preparation.

2.In less fertile soils, a basal application of 0.05 kg DAP/m2 nursery bed

is used. DAP application 15 days after sowing is recommended for

good growth and easy uprooting on 25 days.

Fertilizer application in different types of nursery