Vol. 12, Issue 6 (2023)

Author(s):
C Sunil, Praveen V Kadam, Jeevan HR, Chandan BM, Umme Seema N, Mallikarjuna HB and Jayanth Kanavi GB

Abstract:
Faulty and imbalanced application of NPK based fertilizers to paddy not only threatens the environment also affecting the sustainable food security of country. Variation in method and quantity of N fertilizer application has higher impact on the sustainability of paddy production. A field study was carried out to study the effect of foliar feeding of nano and conventional urea growth, yield traits and yield of paddy. The experiment was laid out in RBD with three replications making eleven treatment combinations. The results revealed, paddy growth and yield was significantly varied with application of both conventional and nano urea compared to control (T₁) and RDF (T₂). Application of 100% RDN + One spray of 0.4% nano urea fertilizer at 30 DAT (T₆) increased plant height (80.2 cm), number of tillers (11.6) and dry matter accumulation (66.3) followed by 75% RDN + Two spray of 0.4% nano urea fertilizer at 30 & 45 DAT (T₅) and 100% RDN+2% conventional urea at 30 DAT (T₁₀). These treatments also had highest number of fertile tiller number (15%), panicle length (20%), filled and unfertile grain number (23 and 13%) compared to control. There was 24.4% improvement in yield (4715.0 kg/ha) was noted due T₆ compared to RDF (T₂). Compared to conventional urea 9.1% increment in yield was noted, irrespective of treatments. 75% RDN + one nano N spray at 30 DAT saved ~25-40% of nitrogen compared to 100% RDN + one spray of urea.