~ 1241 ~ Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2020; 9(6): 1241-1244 E-ISSN: 2278-4136 P-ISSN: 2349-8234 www.phytojournal.com JPP 2020; 9(6): 1241-1244 Received: 05-09-2020 Accepted: 14-10-2020 Jagdeep Singh College of Agriculture, Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo, Punjab, India Balwinder Singh Dhillon College of Agriculture, Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo, Punjab, India Corresponding Author: Balwinder Singh Dhillon College of Agriculture, Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo, Punjab, India Effect of green manuring and fly ash on the growth and grain yield of rice ( Oryza sativa L.) Jagdeep Singh and Balwinder Singh Dhillon Abstract A field experiment was planned and carried out with entitled “Effect of soil moisture and agrochemical A field experiment entitled “Effect of green manuring and fly ash on the growth and grain yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.)” was conducted during kharif 2018 at Research Farm, Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda (Punjab). The experiment was laid out in split plot design comprising two green manuring levels viz., control (0 t/ha), and 25 t/ha incorporation in main plots and three fly ash doses viz., control (0 t/ha), 10 and 20 t/ha in sub plot plots. It is clearly concluded that there is a good scope of increasing crop yields through the use of green manuring and fly ash. It is extremely important for sustaining production and improving the fertility of soils. Green manuring significantly increased the plant growth viz., plant height, dry matter and number of tillers/plant and yield attributing characters viz., number of grains/panicle and test weight and seed cotton yield, straw yield and harvest index in rice. Incorporation of green manuring @ 25 t/ha recorded 8.70% more grain yield than control. Fly ash @ 10 t ha -1 and 20 t ha -1 resulted in the statistically similar plant growth, yield attributes and grain yield in rice. Fly ash @ 10 t ha -1 and 20 t ha -1 recorded 9.40 and 6.75%, respectively higher grain yield than control. Keywords: Fly ash, grain yield, green manuring, rice, straw yield and test weight Introduction Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most important staple food grain crop of India as well as Asia. Rice is good supplement for nutritional requirement of human body and contains 6-7- per cent protein and 70-75 per cent carbohydrates. India stands in second position next to china in the world with regard to production of rice. In India Rice is grown on 44 m ha with total production of 112 million tonnes with average productivity of 2540 kg ha -1 . Punjab is not only a leading wheat producer, but also among the highest rice producing states in India. Rice is an important crop in Punjab and grown for Basmati, the best quality of rice known for its great taste and aroma is grown widely in Punjab. Punjab accounts for about 10% of total rice production in the country. The production of rice was 11.38 million tonnes harvested from 2.84 million ha (Anonymous 2019) [2] . Nutrient is most important input for crop production after water, application of inorganic fertilizers give quick response and provide nutrient to plant immediately continuous use of these inorganic fertilizers alone have increased the crop yield but cause many environment problems including soil, air and water pollution and human health hazards. It also caused depleted soil organic matter results into inherent loss of native soil available P and available K (Mehta et al. 2007) [4] . Moreover in low land rice ecosystem, the nitrogen use efficiency 25-35 per cent of applied nitrogen because of nitrogen is rapidly lost by ammonia volatilization and dentirification. Crops are grown for the purpose of restoring or improving the organic matter content, soil properties and N-content in the soil are called green manure crops and their use in cropping system is called green manuring. Green manure crops are belonging to family Febaceae, are wonderful gift of nature to mankind. The inclusion of green manures before sowing of rice significantly improve the yield of rice by providing the essential nutrients to the soil. Among the green manure crops, Sesbania rostrata produced the highest grain yield of transplanting aman rice compared to other green manure crops. The Sesbania rostrata may be add about 60- 80 kg N ha -1 in soil and also improve the physical, chemical, and biological conditions of soil (Pramanik et al. 2004) [7] . It increased the activity of heterotrophic bacteria, fungi in soil, responsible for conversion of unavailable form of nutrient to available from and mitigates the micro nutrient deficiencies. It is a quick- growing succulent green manure crops. It adapts itself of varying conditions of soil and climate. It can be grown even under adverse conditions of drought, water logging and salinity etc.