~ 217 ~ Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2019; 8(4): 217-220 E-ISSN: 2278-4136 P-ISSN: 2349-8234 JPP 2019; 8(4): 217-220 Received: 28-05-2019 Accepted: 30-06-2019 Aatheeswari R Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, AC& RI, Killikulam, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India Suresh S Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, AC& RI, Killikulam, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India Ramanathan SP Department of ACRC, TNAU, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India Jeberlin Prabina B Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, AC& RI, Killikulam, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India Correspondence Aatheeswari R Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, AC& RI, Killikulam, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India Effect of different integrated nutrient management practices on soil fertility, rice productivity and profitability in Thamirabarani tract of Tamil Nadu Aatheeswari R, Suresh S, Ramanathan SP and Jeberlin Prabina B Abstract A field experiment was conducted in the Thamirabarani tract of Tamilnadu during pishanam season of 2018-2019 to study the effect of different INM practices on soil fertility, rice productivity and profitability in a sandy clay loam soil, Thamirabarani tract of Tamilnadu. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with 9 treatments and 3 replications. The results revealed that among the different INM practices STCR-IPNS along with application of biofertilizers on 15 th & 30 th days after transplanting recorded the highest productivity and profitability, followed by STCR-IPNS with basal application alone treatment. The same treatment recorded the highest yield (7.70 t haˉ¹) as well as nutrient uptake besides profitability (Rs.386 haˉ¹ dayˉ¹) over the other treatments. The yield attributes were also improved by the same treatment. The STCR-IPNS treatment with biofertilizers (basal, 15 th & 30 th DAT) improved the soil available nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and organic carbon after the harvest. The same treatment recorded the highest net return of Rs.42,436 haˉ¹. Among the INM treatments 75 % RDF + GLM @ 6.25 t ha¯ ¹ + biofertilizers- (basal 15 th & 30 th DAT) recorded the lowest net return of Rs.32,356 haˉ¹. Keywords: INM, economics, nutrient uptake, rice, yield Introduction Rice (Oryza sativa) L is one of the predominant cereal crop, cultivated all over the world, and also an important staple food crop for most of the countries. India is the second largest rice producing country in the world after China. In India the total rice cultivation is 43.19 million hectares with an annual production of 166.5 million metric tonnes with the average productivity of 3.93 t haˉ¹. The cultivation of high yielding rice varieties depleted the inherent soil fertility. The rice production and productivity is influenced by proper nutrient management. Integrated Nutrient Management is very important for sustainable rice production. Many of our problems related to declining productivity of rice are due to improper and inefficient use of nutrients. Improper nutrient management has resulted in nutrient imbalances in the soil, with certain nutrients in excess while others are deficient. (Yadav and Meena, 2014). Through economic and efficient integrated plant nutrition system based management practice, farmer can achieve enhanced agricultural productivity and safe guard the environment. Soil test based fertilizer recommendations result in efficient fertilizer use and maintenance of soil fertility. Several approaches have been used for fertilizer recommendation based on soil test and INM practices, so as to attain maximum yield per unit of fertilizer use by the targeted yield approaches (Ramamoorthy et al., 1967) which had received wide acceptability and popularity in India. The INM practice provides micronutrients, improves soil physical, chemical properties and the use efficiency of nutrients (Baishya et al., 2015) [2] . It also improves the soil fertility and sustain the crop productivity. The present situation of the escalating price of inorganic fertilizers, low availability and high cost involved in the organics application, improper utilization of bio-fertilizers, it is imperative to identify suitable integrated nutrient management with bio-consortium to reduce the input cost and increasing the use efficiency of nutrients, sustaining soil properties and yield of rice in the Thamirabarani tract of Tamil Nadu. Materials and Methods A field experiment was conducted during pishanam season of the year 2018-2019 at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Killikulam in the Thamirabarani tract of