Effect of long-term chemical and organic fertilization on rice productivity, nutrient use-efficiency, and balance under a rice-fallow-rice system

Nutrient sources and management influence soil properties and crop productivity indicating that sustained crop production needs nutrient rate specific tuning after certain periods of time. We hypothesize that long-term use of organic and inorganic nutrient sources maintains soil fertility and improve crop production. Yield and nutrient use efficiencies have not been evaluated in Bangladesh from long-term fertilizer trials focusing on adaptation strategies for sustained food production. So, the objectives of the present investigation were to examine the effects of organic and inorganic amendments on yields and soil properties under a rice-fallow-rice system. The experiment was initiated in 1985 with 12 treatments under dry season irrigated rice culture at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur. The effects of organic and inorganic nutrient sources were evaluated under missing element techniques. The contributions of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizers to yields were more in the dry season but the role of P was negligible in the wet season. The omissions of N, P and K nutrients are not suitable management option for rice cultivation during dry and wet seasons, although P can be omitted in the wet season provided its full dose is applied in the dry season. The combined use of organic and inorganic nutrient sources are the best option for improving rice productivity and sustaining soil fertility in a rice-fallow-rice system in Bangladesh.