Field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2013 and 2014 at 'G' Block, Zonal Agricultural Research Station, V.C. Farm, Mandya, Karnataka to study the performance of rice establishment methods and nutrient management practices. The study revealed that aerobic rice recorded significantly higher root length (26.6 cm), root dry weight (24.0 g plant-1) and root volume (65.2 cc) followed by direct seeded rice. Among nutrient management practices, higher root length (24.9 cm), root dry weight (25.1 g plant-1) and root volume (64.2 cc) recorded in 100 % RDF + 50% diancha followed by 100 % RDF –STCR +Zn+S. Significantly higher plant height (64.0 cm), number of tillers per hill (34.7), leaf area (2288.8 cm2) and total dry matter production (104.9 g) was recorded in transplanted rice and lowest in direct seeded rice. Among nutrient management practices, higher plant height (66.2 cm), more number of tillers per hill (33.2), higher leaf area (2187.5 cm2) and higher total dry matter production (107.1 g) was recorded with 100% RDF + 50% diancha followed by 100 % RDF –STCR +Zn + S. Significantly higher number of panicles per hill (27.0), length of panicle (20.9 cm), panicle weight (3.6 g) and 1000 grain weight (17.9 g) were recorded with transplanted rice and lowest with direct seeded rice. Among nutrient management practices 100 % RDF + 50 % dhaincha recorded higher number of panicles per hill (25.9), length of panicle (21.4 cm), panicle weight (3.7 g) and 1000 grain weight (17.2 g) were recorded. Significantly higher grain and straw yield (34.5 and 39.8 q ha-1 respectively) was observed with transplanted rice and lowest with direct seeded rice. Among different nutrient management practices application of 100 per cent RDF + 50 % diancha produced significantly higher grain yield (37.3 q ha-1) and straw yield (41.1 q ha-1).