Impact of liquid nano urea fertilizer on soil properties after harvest of summer rice (Oryza sativa L.) under south Gujarat conditions

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during February to June in 2022 and 2023 at the College Farm, N. M. College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, India, to evaluate the impact of liquid Nano urea fertilizer on soil properties of soil after harvest of summer rice under South Gujarat conditions. The experiment carried out with a randomized block design (RBD) with twelve nitrogen management treatments combining conventional urea and Nano urea through seedling root dips and foliar sprays. The experimental site had clayey soil, medium organic carbon, and varied nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium levels. Results showed no significant effect of nitrogen treatments on soil pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, bulk density, available P2O5 and K2O after harvest of summer rice. However, significantly higher available nitrogen was recorded with 100% RDN (120 kg N/ha) through urea (T1) in both years, but it remained at par with remaining treatments except T2, T3, T5 and T8. The lowest nitrogen was recorded in T12, involving Nano urea without full urea supplementation. The study indicates Nano urea can enhance traditional urea applications but cannot fully replace conventional urea for maintaining soil nitrogen and boosting rice productivity. Integrating Nano urea with conventional methods is essential for sustainable rice cultivation in South Gujarat.