Rice grown in flood-prone areas must have submergence tolerance characteristics either through varietal
selection or by management options like nutrient application. This study is conducted to investigate the
effect of application methods of nitrogen and phosphorus on submerged rice productivity and nutrient
absorption. The effect of basal phosphorus and post-flood nitrogen (six different nutrient schedules) on
the performance of Sub1 (IR-64 Sub1 and Swarna Sub1) and non-Sub1 (IR-20) cultivars of rice was tested
under clear and turbid water submergence for their tolerance to submergence. Photosynthesis, yield and
N concentration of rice subjected to complete submergence for 15 days was decreased significantly over
non-submerged rice plants. Turbid water submergence was fatal in terms of photosynthesis, stomatal
conductance, effective tillers and yield because of low light and dissolved oxygen underwater. Rice plants
fertilized with P tolerated flooding better and produced significantly higher grain yields than no P
application. The crop fertilized with N produced more number of effective tillers and grain yield than the
unfertilized crop under complete submergence at maximum tillering (MT) stage. When post-flood N was
applied alone, grain yield was 25.8, 17.8 and 17.1% lower in IR-20, IR-64 Sub1 and Swarna Sub1,
respectively, as compared to N and basal P application. Urea foliar spray after desubmergence
significantly enhanced the photosynthesis and narrowed down the flowering time which led to higher
grain yield and productivity. The findings of the study suggest that a simple alteration in the time and
method of N application with basal P can significantly contribute to higher rice yield in flash-flood prone
areas.