Field Validation of on STCR Based Fertilizer Recommendations in Paddy on Alfisols of Nagarkurnool District, Telangana State

On farm trails were conducted at six different locations across three villages in Nagarkurnool district of Telangana during Rabi 2017 and 2018 to evaluate the soil test crop response (STCR) based fertilizer prescription for paddy on Alfisols. The treatments include farmers fertiliser practice, recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) and STCR based fertilizer recommendations for an yield target of 70 q ha -1 . The N, P and K fertilizers for yield target was calculated based on the initial soil test values of the respective locations. The results showed that, against the paddy yield target of 70 q ha -1 , the grain yield at six locations varied from 69.08 to 72.49 q ha -1 with a mean of 71.15 q ha -1 . With respect to farmers practice of fertiliser recommendations, the yield at ten locations varied from 66.18 to 69.82 q ha -1 with a mean yield of 67.92 q ha -1 . The grain yield recorded with STCR recommendations were higher in producing grain yield as compared to RDF and farmers practice of fertiliser recommendations. Adoption of STCR based fertilizer recommendations for paddy was useful to the farmers for saving of P fertilizers from current recommended dose by 25 kg P2O5 ha -1 (42 % of RDP) and saving of cost of P fertilizers applied per hectare to the extent of Rs.1250/-. The treatment of targeted yield found most economic treatment as compare to farmer practices and general recommendation.