Field-specific nutrient management using Rice Crop Manager decision support tool in Odisha, India

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Agronomy
• Soil Science

Background:

• Fertilizer requirements for rice (Oryza sativa L.) vary with management practices.
• A web-based decision support tool, Rice Crop Manager (RCM), was developed for field-specific nutrient management in Odisha, India.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare RCM's field-specific nutrient management with farmers' practices (FFP) and blanket recommendations (BFR).
• To evaluate the effectiveness of RCM in enhancing rice grain yield and economic returns.

Main Methods:

• Conducted 209 field trials over two years across ten districts and six agro-climatic zones.
• Compared RCM recommendations against FFP and BFR (80 kg N, 17 kg P, 33 kg K ha⁻¹).
• Analyzed yield, nutrient application timing, and financial risk across different rice varieties and conditions.

Main Results:

• RCM consistently resulted in higher grain yields than FFP.
• RCM increased yield over BFR due to optimized N application timing and rates, and zinc application.
• RCM reduced the financial risk of crop loss compared to BFR.
• Effectiveness of RCM was consistent across varieties, irrigation, and soil types, except in one zone requiring higher P/K.

Conclusions:

• RCM offers a superior approach to nutrient management for rice, enhancing yield and profitability.
• The RCM tool's nutrient calculation algorithms can be refined with new research.
• The Odisha RCM experience can inform the development of similar tools in other rice-growing regions.