Integrated fertilizer management and agrometeorological conditions associated with yield and nutritional quality of Boro rice

Increasing rice production while improving grain nutritional quality is essential for global food security. We hypothesized that integrated fertilizer management combined with a suitable rice variety would enhance grain yield, nutrient uptake, and nutritional quality compared to conventional fertilizer management, while agrometeorological conditions would help explain variations in crop performance. Accordingly, this study evaluated the effects of rice variety and integrated fertilizer management on growth, yield, nutrient uptake, and grain nutritional quality of Boro rice and examined their associations with agrometeorological variables. BRRI dhan89 outperformed BINA dhan10, exhibiting greater plant height and superior yield attributes. BRRI dhan89 produced the highest grain yield with 75% chemical fertilizers plus 25% cow dung, whereas BINA dhan10 produced the lowest grain yield under the control treatment. Nutrient analyses revealed that BINA dhan10 had higher calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and starch content, whereas BRRI dhan89 had elevated levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, and protein. Combining 75% chemical fertilizers with 25% cow dung was associated with higher macro- and micronutrient uptake and improved grain nutritional characteristics. Grain yield was positively correlated with grain nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur concentrations. Moreover, grain yield was positively associated with sunshine duration and air temperature but negatively associated with relative humidity. The highest benefit-cost ratio (2.02) was observed in BRRI dhan89 with the combination of 75% chemical fertilizers and 25% cow dung. Post-harvest soil analysis showed higher soil organic carbon and selected available nutrient concentrations under integrated fertilizer management. Under the conditions evaluated, application of 75% of the recommended chemical fertilizer rates with 25% cow dung, particularly in BRRI dhan89, was associated with greater grain productivity and nutrient uptake, along with favorable grain nutritional characteristics. However, further multi-location and multi-season studies are needed to validate the wider applicability of these findings.