A field experiment was conducted during kharif, 2011 on sandy loam soils of Agricultural College Farm, Naira to find out the best crop establishment technique and the optimum nutrient dose for rice. Uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium by rice at flowering and harvesting was found to be the maximum with transplanting method (C4), which was comparable with semi- dry system (C1). While, the lowest uptake was associated with broadcasting of sprouted seed (C3), which was however, on a par with drum seeding of sprouted seed (C2). Grain yield was significantly higher with transplanting (C4) which was, however, in parity with semi-dry system (C1) and drum seeding of sprouted seed (C2). The grain yield was the lowest with broadcasting of sprouted seed (C3). Among the nutrient doses tried, the maximum grain yield and uptake were associated with application of the highest dose of N P K (F5- 140-105-95 kg N, P2O5, K2O ha-1) which was, however, comparable with F4 (120-90-80 kg N, P2O5, K2O ha-1).