Radio Tracer Studies on P Use Efficiency in a Rice Based Cropping System

Tracer studies using ³²P labelled superphosphate and rock phosphate were conducted in microplots in a field experiment on rice-rice-greengram cropping system. The trial revealed that in all the rice crops studied, P uptake and P use efficiency were higher in superphosphate treated plots than in rock phosphate applied ones. P uptake was improved with organic manuring through application of green manure or crop residues like long rice stubbles. While superphosphate performed well either with or without organic manuring, rock phosphate performed fairly well only with organic manuring. Fairly good P use efficiency could be obtained in the system when green manuring and rock phosphate application in the first crop was followed by superphosphate and long stubble incorporation in the second crop. Apparent recovery values also showed nearly the same results. But tracer studies were found to be definitely superior in the evaluation of fertilizers.