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Minimizing Nitrogen Requirement of Rice Through Foliar Spray of Urea

Harun Miah
Department of Agronomy, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Md Parvez Anwar*
Weed Management Laboratory, Department of Agronomy, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Md. Rashedur Rahman
Department of Agronomy, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Shohrab Hoshain
Department of Agriculture, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, Bangladesh

Kawsar Hossen
Department of Agriculture, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

An experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh during the period from December 2015 to May 2016 to evaluate the possibility of urea foliar spray in Boro rice for minimizing nitrogen requirement and to find out the best combination of top dressing and foliar application of urea for higher productivity of boro rice with reduced nitrogen application. The experiment consisted of two factors viz. factor A: boro rice variety and factor B: urea application method. Three boro rice varieties included in the experiment were BRRI dhan29 (V1), Binadhan-8(V2) and hybrid variety Tej (V3). Six different urea application methods were no urea (U0), 220 kg urea as top dressing (UT220), 110 kg urea as top dressing + 66 kg as foliar spray (UT110 + UF66), 110 kg urea as top dressing + 33 kg as foliar spray (UT110 + UF33), 73 kg urea as top dressing + 66 kg as foliar spray (UT73 + UF66) and 73 kg urea as top dressing + 33 kg as foliar spray (UT73 + UF33). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Rice variety significantly affected growth and yield of rice. Binadhan-8 appeared as the tallest variety and hybrid variety Tej exihibited highest tillering ability. Among the varieties studied, hybrid rice Tej performed the best producing more than 20% higher yield than other inbred varieties. Application of 110 kg urea ha-1 as top dressing followed by 66 kg urea ha-1 as foliar spray produced the highest grain yield which was 7% higher than that produced by 220 kg urea ha-1 applied as top dressing, and also saved 44 kg urea ha-1 . Therefore, present findings confirm that foliar application of urea can minimize nitrogen requirement of rice through better nitrogen use efficiency compared to urea top dressing and thus can contribute towards developing a more cost-effective and sustainable rice production system.

Keywords: Nitrogen, Foliar spray, Soil application, Boro rice, Yield

Location: Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh during the period from December 2015 to May 2016

Start Date: 00-12-2015

End Date: 00-05-2016

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Fertilizer

Objectives:

To evaluate the possibility of urea foliar spray for minimizing nitrogen requirement in hybrid and inbred boro rice varieties and to find out the best combination of top dressing and foliar spray of urea for a cost-effective and sustainable rice production system.

Methodology:

2.1 Description of the Experimental Site The experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Department of Agronomy, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during boro season of 2015-2016. The experimental site is located at 24o 75' N latitude and 90o 50' E longitude at an average altitude of 18 m above the mean of sea level. The experimental site belongs to the Old Brahmaputra Floodplain Agroecological zone (AEZ-9). The land was medium high and the soil was silt-loam and the soil is medium fertile. The soil was more or less neutral in nature (pH 6.75) and low in organic matter content (1.17%). The climate is sub-tropical. Usually there is high temperature, high humidity and heavy rainfall during April to September (kharif season) and scanty rainfall associated with moderately low temperature and low humidity during October to March (rabi season). During the experimental period, monthly average maximum, minimum temperature & relative humidity, and total rainfall & sunshine hours ranged from 23.7 to 33.8 0C, 11.8 to 23.6 0C, and 73.7 to 85.0%, 0.3 to 10.3 mm and 116.0 to 171.6 hrs, respectively. 2.2 Experimental Treatments The experiment consisted of two factors viz. factor A: boro rice variety and factor B: urea application method. Three boro rice varieties included in the experiment were BRRI dhan29 (V1), Binadhan-8 (V2) and hybrid variety Tej (V3). Six different urea application methods were no urea (U0), 220 kg urea as top dressing (UT220), 110 kg urea as top dressing + 66 kg as foliar spray (UT110 + UF66), 110 kg urea as top dressing + 33 kg as foliar spray (UT110 + UF33), 73 kg urea as top dressing + 66 kg as foliar spray (UT73 + UF66) and 73 kg urea as top dressing + 33 kg as foliar spray (UT73 + UF33). In case of top dressing total urea was applied in three equal splits at 15, 30 and 60 days after transplanting. In case of foliar spray 2% urea solution was sprayed over the crop. 2.3 Experimental Design The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The total number of plot was 54. Each plot size was 4.0 m×2.5m. The distance maintained between two unit plots was 0.5 m and between blocks was 1m. The bunds around individual plots were made firmly to control water movement among the plots. The treatments were randomly allocated on the plots. 2.4 Crop Husbandry The experimental field was first opened on18 December 2015 with a power tiller. The land was irrigated on 03 January 2016. Then the land was puddled thoroughly by ploughing and cross ploughing three times with country plough followed by laddering in order to level the field. Fertilizers were applied in the field as per recommendation of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute with 100 kg triple super phosphate, 70 kg muriate of potash, 60 kg gypsum and 10 kg zinc sulphate ha-1 one day before transplanting as basal dose. Nitrogenous fertilizers were applied as per treatment specification. Forty days old seedlings were uprooted from the seedbed and were transplanted on 12 January, 2016. The spacing of transplanting was 25 cm × 15 cm with three seedlings hill-1. Gap filling, Weeding, Irrigation and drainage were performed as when needed. The crop was harvested at full maturity. The date of harvesting was determined when 90% of the grains become golden yellow in colour. Five hills (excluding border hills) were randomly selected from each plot for recording necessary data on various plant characters. Binadhan-8 and Tej (hybrid) were harvested on 5 May 2016. BRRI dhan29 was harvested on 12 May 2016. The harvested crop of each plot was separately bundled, properly tagged and then brought to the threshing floor. The grains were then threshed using pedal thresher. 2.5 Data Collection Data on plant height and tillering ability were recorded from five randomly selected hills at regular intervals. Relative leaf chlorophyll content in terms of SPAD (Silicon Photon Activated Diode) value at panicle initiation and heading stages using a portable SPAD meter (MINOLTATM SPAD-502, Minolta Camera Co., Osaka, Japan) from the youngest 10 fully expanded leaves at 60 and 90 DAT. Yield contributing characters were recorded at harvest from five randomly selected sample plants from each plot. After harvesting the whole plot, grains were threshed cleaned and weighed to record the grain yield plot-1. Grain moisture content was recorded and grain yield was adjusted at 14% moisture content. Straws were cleaned, sun dried and weighed to record the yield. Finally grain and straw yields plot-1 were converted to t ha-1 . 2.5 Statistical Analysis All the data were tabulated in proper form for the statistical analysis. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was done following the RCBD with the help of computer package MSTAT-C program [15] and the mean differences were adjudged by the Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at p ≤ 0.05.

Source of Information: Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-3, Issue-12, (2017) ISSN (O): 2454-1362

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Among the varieties studied, hubrid rice Tej performed the best producing more than 20% higher yield than other inbred varieties. Application of 110 kg urea ha-1 as top dressing followed by 66 kg urea ha-1 as foliar spray produced the highest grain yield which was 7% higher than that produced by 220 kg urea ha-1 applied as top dressing, and also saved 44 kg urea ha-1. Therefore, present findings confirm that foliar application of urea can minimize nitrogen requirement of rice through better nitrogen use efficiency compared to urea top dressing and thus can contribute towards developing a more cost-effective and sustainable rice production system.

Knowledge Management: Journal