Comparative Evaluation of Conventional Inorganic Fertilization and Sesbania rostrata Green Manuring on Soil Properties and the Growth and Development of Oryza sativa L. ‘Pant Basmati 1’

Abstract To assess the impacts of conventional and organic nutrient management techniques on growth, productivity, sustainability, and soil health in the Basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivar Pant Basmati 1, a two-year field experiment was carried out during the Kharif seasons of 2023 and 2024. Crop duration remained stable across management methods, as illustrated by phenological variables such as panicle initiation (58-62 days), blooming (84–88 days), and maturity (106-111 days) that were not significantly affected by fertilizer source. Conventional fertilizer supported superior growth at later stages, while organic management produced greater plant height at early growth phases. While the leaf area index and dry matter accumulation were consistently higher under conventional management because of the quick availability of nutrients, tiller density remained similar across treatments (363-411 m⁻²). Despite statistically significant variations, chlorophyll a and b quantities peaked under organic inputs at 60 DAT. Higher biological and grain yields were obtained with conventional fertilization; however, yield variations between systems were generally insignificant over time. As soil fertility stabilized, organic management notably increased the harvest index in the second year, indicating improved assimilate partitioning. The findings show that organic nutrient management can provide benefits in terms of resource efficiency and environmental sustainability while maintaining yield parity with conventional systems during the early conversion phase. Organic management techniques improve soil quality. Compared with to conventional methods, organic management practices were found to have higher soil macro and micronutrient status, water-holding capacity, aggregate stability, and soil enzyme activity (DHA and acid & alkaline phosphatase). These results show that organic Basmati rice cultivation is a feasible and sustainable alternative to traditional nutrient management, even though it may take longer to reach maximum yield. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.