Status of Input use Pattern in Rice Crop in Jammu Sub-tropics of Jammu and Kashmir: An Empirical Study

The present study examines input use patterns across different rice types in the sub-tropical Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir. Primary data were collected from 360 rice growers across Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts using a multistage random sampling technique. Results revealed that rice cultivation has a strong reliance on chemical fertilizers, with urea application averaging 103-177 kg ha^-1, supplemented by DAP (81-144 kg ha^-1), MOP (27-53 kg ha^-1) and FYM use (3.3-14.0 t ha^-1). Nitrogen was mainly applied in basal and one split dose, while second split application was minimal. Marked deviations from recommended doses were recorded. In coarse rice, cent per cent of farmers in Samba applied urea below recommended levels, while in Kathua both under- (65%) and over-application (35%) were observed. In contrast, 73-81 per cent of basmati growers applied excessive nitrogen, and nearly 98-99 per cent over-applied phosphorus. Potassium and zinc showed high variability across districts and rice types. The study highlights a clear nutrient imbalance and a persistent gap between recommended and actual fertilizer practices, emphasizing the need educating farmers to apply for site-specific nutrient management, based on soil testing, and balanced fertilization to enhance productivity and sustainability of rice crop.