Evaluation of Nano-Urea Application on Growth and Yield Performance of Basmati Rice under Flooded Conditions
K Bharath Chandra
Division of Plant Physiology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi-110 012, India.
Vijay Paul *
Division of Plant Physiology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi-110 012, India.
Rakesh Pandey
Division of Plant Physiology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi-110 012, India.
Pravin Kumar Upadhyay
Division of Agronomy, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi-110 012, India.
Ramesh Chand Meena
Division of Plant Physiology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi-110 012, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: Rice crop utilizes only 30 to 40% of applied nitrogenous fertilizers and rest of the nitrogen (N) goes waste. Introduction of nano-urea in India had come with claims that it offers promising solution in enhancing nitrogen use efficiency for crops including flooded rice cultivation and thereby reduction in losses and associated environmental problems.
Aim: A study was undertaken to examine the effect of nano-urea formulation (a.i., 4% nano-N w/v) on Basmati rice under normal-sown and flooded-condition.
Methodology: Experiment was laid down with five treatments. Control (T1) received recommended doses of fertilizers to soil. Remaining four treatments received either 50% of recommended N dose (T2 and T4) or 75% of recommended N dose (T3 and T5) to the soil along with two foliar applications of either normal-urea @ 2% w/v (T2 and T3) or nano-urea @ 0.016% w/v (T4 and T5).
Results: It was found that regardless of foliar applications either with normal-urea or nano-urea, plant growth and yield parameters were lower in T2 and T4 and higher in T3 and T5. Responses obtained with foliar applications of nano-urea were comparable to foliar application of normal-urea, separately at 50% N and at 75% N. This short-term study although indicated the possibility of saving about 25% and 17% of N through foliar applications of nano-urea (T5) and normal-urea (T3), respectively however, outcomes were discussed based on the current knowledge and understanding. It was also noted that rice plants under limited availability of N showed tendency of reduction in yield (by 8.7% in T5) in spite of possible mining of N from the soil, N that was made available by N-fixation and also via rains during the monsoon season.
Conclusion: Findings suggested that use of nano-urea as partial substitute to the reduced application of N to the soil is not supporting for sustained production potential of rice crop and soil health. Future lines of work are therefore suggested so that suitable decision on large-scale use of nano-urea/nano-formulations can be taken up.
Keywords: Basmati rice, foliar application, normal-urea, nano-urea, growth, yield