Response of applied neem coated urea (NCU) on yield and yield attributing parameters of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2016 at Crop Research Centre of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut (U.P.) to evaluate the Response of applied neem coated urea (NCU) on yield and yield attributing parameters of rice (Oryza sativa L.). The study was carried out with eleven treatments comprising T1-control (No N), T2-50:25:25 N, T3-33:33:33 N, T4-25:25:50 N, T5-25:50:25 N, T6-00:50:50 N, T7-00:75:25 N, T8-00:25:75 N, T9-50:50:00 N, T10-50:00:50 N through neem coated urea as basal, at maximum tillering and panicle initiation stage and T11-LCC based (≤ 4 critical value) replicated thrice estimated in a randomized block design. The data on growth, yield and its contributing traits were calculated on plot area basis (15 m2), whereas content and uptake of nutrients at various stages along with available N, P and K as well as availability at surface, sub surface was recorded as per the standard procedure. The experimental results revealed that growth attributes (plant height, number of tillers and dry matter accumulation), yield attributing traits (grains panicle-1and test weight), yields viz., grain, straw and biological and uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in rice differ significantly among different treatments and were maximum with the application of 25% N as basal, 50% at maximum tillering and 25% at panicle initiation stage. Application of 50% N as basal and rest through LCC (≤ 4) critical value improved the organic carbon of soil. Therefore, application of 25% N as basal, 50% at maximum tillering and 25% panicle initiation stage, proved to be better for achieving higher yield and maintaining the nutrient status of soil. The rice also accumulated significantly higher nitrogen in grains, straw as well as total (69.65, 59.04 kg ha-1 and 128.69 kg ha-1, respectively) in this treatment.