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Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate changes in the yield and nutritional characteristics of aromatic rice as influenced by organic versus mineral fertilization. Aromatic rice was grown on four levels of cattle manure (CM; 5, 10, 15, and 20 Mg ha−1). Other treatments were equivalent amounts of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in different levels of manure fertilizer and mineral fertilizer. After 6 years of cropping, organically managed plots were superior to mineral-fertilized plots in terms of grain yields of rice at 5, 10, and 15 Mg ha−1. Cattle manure at 20 Mg ha−1 and its equivalent NPK through mineral-fertilizer treatment provided 41.1% and 37.9% increases in average grain yield (5.2 and 5.1 Mg ha−1) over the unamended control. Protein content was greater in mineral-fertilized rice grains at all levels of CM. Soil dehydrogenase, β-glucosidae, urease, and acid phosphatase activities were greater in soil treated with CM than soil treated with the corresponding mineral fertilizer at all levels. There was buildup of soil-available N, K, and iron (Fe) in soils treated with CM. Grain hardness increased with increasing rates of nutrient application for both mineral-fertilized and organically grown rice; in contrast, amylose content was lower in treatments receiving more nutrients, irrespective of nutrient sources. In terms of functional property, phenol content in rice grain increased with increasing nutrient supply. Potassium and Fe contents were more in CM-treated rice than in mineral-fertilized treatments at greater rates of application. Results suggest that after building up the soil nutrient status, comparable yield and better nutritional and functional qualities of rice can be achieved in organically managed soils than in mineral-fertilized soils.