Vol. 12, Issue 11 (2023)

Author(s):
Rahul Sharma, Dr. Sandeep Manuja, Naveen Kumar, Raj Paul Sharma, Sachin Saharan, Tarun Sharma and Bharat Bhushan Rana

Abstract:
A two-year field experiment was undertaken during kharif 2021 and kharif 2022 at the Experimental Farm of Department of Agronomy, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Palampur (H.P.) with the objective to study the effect of Nano N and Nano Zn on growth, development, and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.). in mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh. The experiment consisted of fourteen treatments and three replications with randomized block design (RBD). The treatment consisted of different levels of conventional nitrogen fertilizer with or without sprays of Nano nitrogen (@ 4 ml/l.) and/or Nano zinc (@ 2 ml/l.) The fertilizer dose for red-rice was 60:30:30 kg/ha with HPR 2795 (Him Palam Lal Dhan 1) as variety. The soil of the experimental site was silty clay loam in texture, acidic in reaction and medium in available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and zinc. The results obtained from the present investigation clearly indicated the significant influence of different N level treatments (100, 75 or 50% N) with or without Nano N and/or Nano Zn application on the growth, yield and economics of rice, though development parameters were not influencing significantly. Application of treatment, T₄: 100% N along with single combined spray of nano nitrogen and nano zinc gave significantly higher values of plant height at all stages of observations as well as grain yield (34.9 q/ha and 33.9 q/ha) during both the years 2021 and 2022 though it was at par with treatment application of T₉: 75% N supplemented with double combined sprays of nano nitrogen and nano zinc (33.5 q/ha and 32.5 q/ha). This treatment also proved to be the most remunerative one giving higher B:C ratio (1.40 and 1.33) during both the years. Foliar nano zinc application to the crop increased the grain yield of rice. Thus, treatment T₄: 100% N along with single combined spray of nano nitrogen and nano zinc is considered to be the best treatment for growth, grain yield and BC ratio in rice crop, though it was at par with treatment, T₉: 75% N supplemented with double combined sprays of nano nitrogen and nano zinc in terms of plant height and grain yield. Since, lodging was not reported in crop during both the years hence, lodging score was zero.