Effect of delayed planting of rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties on crop nutrient status and grain quality of crop grown in Varanasi, India

A field experiment entitled “Performance of different rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties under different dates of delayed planting” was carried out during kharif 2018 at Agricultural farm, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh to find the effect of delayed planted rice varieties on crop nutrient status and grain quality. Four rice varieties and three dates of planting were allocated in main and subplot respectively in split plot which was replicated thrice. For determining the nutrient status plant sample and grains were collected at different crop growth stages i.e., at 30, 60 DAT and at harvest and analysed after processing. The results showed that the four rice varieties (V1-Gargi, V2- DRR-42, V3-Sadabahar, and V4-NDR-97) and three dates of planting (D1- 5-08-2018, D2- 13-08-2018 and D3- 21-08-2018) under investigation differed significantly in various components of crop nutrient status viz. nutrient content and nutrient removal at different crop growth stages and in both grain and straw. It also varied significantly for crude protein content of grains similarly as crop nutrient status. The results revealed that highest amount nutrient content and removal were recorded by Gargi when planted on 5th August and the lowest amount by Sadabahar when planted on 21st August. The decreasing trend indicates the adverse effect of delayed planting on plant canopy and root development which consequently hampered the optimum nutrient absorption compared to timely planted crop. Hence, timely planting is an important non-monetary input responsible for enhanced production and productivity.