Effects of integrated application of inorganic and organic fertilizer on properties of soil planted with rice

Fertilizer application is essential in the improvement of soil quality and crop yield; it was therefore necessary to investigate the effects of integrated application of inorganic and organic base fertilizer on the soil chemical and physical properties. This experiment was conducted at the Ambrose Alli University Teaching and Research Farm, Ekpoma, Nigeria. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with seven treatments, replicated three times; the treatments were; control (zero application), Indorama granular urea (GU), prilled urea (PU), full dose of P&K+75% Indorama granular urea (GUPK), full dose of P&K+75% prilled urea (PUPK), full dose of P&K+75% Indorama granular urea + 25% FYM (GUP&K+FYM), and full dose of P&K+75% prilled urea + 25% FYM (PUP&K+FYM). The rice variety cultivated was FARO 59. The initial results of the soil analyses showed that the soil was low in nutrient below critical values, the combine application of organic and inorganic fertilizer significantly (p<0.05) improved soil nutrient status compared to the other treatments. The combined application of inorganic and organic fertilizer increased soil pH value from 5.64 in control to 6.92. There was a significant (p< 0.05) improvement of the macro and micronutrient from the integrated application of inorganic and organic based fertilizers compared to other treatments. The application of GUP&K+FYM and PUP&K+FYM significant (p< 0.05) improved the Aggregate stability of the soil. The integrated applications of organic and inorganic fertilizer (GUP&K+FYM and PUP&K+FYM) will significantly (p< 0.05) improve the chemical and physical properties of soil.

Effects of Prilled Urea, Urea Briquettes and NPK Briquettes on the Growth, Yield and Nitrogen use Efficiency of BRRI Dhan48

Nitrogen is one of the most deficient plant nutrients in Bangladesh soils. The use nitrogenous fertilizer especially urea is a commonly used fertilizer for rice production but its efficiency very low about 30-40% under traditional broadcast method A field experiment was carried out in the Soil Science Field Laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during Aus rice growing season of 2014 to investigate the effects of prilled urea, urea briquettes and NPK briquettes on the growth, yield, and nitrogen use efficiency of BRRI dhan48. There were six treatments as T1 [check (N0P16K42], T2 [Urea briquette (one-3.4 g) (N52P16K42)], T3 (Urea briquette (one-2.7 g (N78P16K42)], T4 [NPK briquette (one-3.4g)(N51P13K32], T5 [Prilled urea (N78P16K42)] and T6 [NPK briquettes(two-2.4 g briquettes (N78P15K42)]. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with six treatments and four replications. Prilled urea was applied in two equal splits application; at 8 days after transplanting (DAT) and the second dose after 38 DAT, while for urea briquettes and NPK briquettes were deep placed (8-10 cm depth) at 8 DAT between four hills at alternate rows. Water samples were collected for every 7 consecutive days and analyzed for NH4-N. The results showed that the NH4-N concentration in floodwater reached to maximum on day 2 in PU treated plots and then decreased with time, while the urea briquettes and NPK briquettes treated plots slowly produced NH4-N over the growth period. The highest grain yield of 4.75 t ha-1 (69% over control) was obtained in the treatment T3 [Urea briquette (one-2.7g) (N78P16K42)]. The treatment T3 also produced the highest straw yield of 5.49 t ha-1. The maximum apparent N recovery and the maximum N use efficiency were found in the treatment T4 [NPK briquette (one-3.4g) (N51P13K32)]. It appeared that the deep placement of urea briquettes and NPK briquettes reduced N-losses and enhanced the recovery of applied N as well as N use efficiency in comparison with PU application.

Effect of integrated nutrient management on the growth and yield of boro rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars

For sustainable boro rice production in Bangladesh, a balanced fertilization to improve the current soil condition caused by mono-application of inorganic fertilizers and appropriate rice variety selection are very crucial. Therefore, an experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, during the boro season of December 2016 to May 2017 to evaluate the effect of integrated nutrient management on two boro rice cultivars. The varieties were BRRI dhan28 and BRRI dhan29 and eight kinds of nutrient management viz., control (no fertilizers), recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers (120-60-40 N, P2O5, K2O kg ha-1 + gypsum 60 kg ha-1 and ZnSO4 @ 10 kg ha-1), full dose of poultry manure @ 5 t ha-1, cowdung @ 10 t ha-1, poultry manure @ 2.5 t ha-1 + 50% prilled urea and full dose of other inorganic fertilizers, cowdung @ 5 t ha-1 + 50% prilled urea and full dose of inorganic fertilizers, poultry manure @ 2.5 t ha-1 + 75% prilled urea and full dose of inorganic fertilizers, and cowdung @ 5 t ha-1 + 75% prilled urea and full dose of other inorganic fertilizers. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replications. Result showed that, yield and yield components of boro rice were significantly influenced by variety, nutrient management and interaction of variety and nutrient management. In respect of grain yield, BRRI dhan29 produced the maximum yield (5.46 t ha-1). BRRI dhan28 showed poor performance with all characters and gave the minimum yield (4.07 t ha-1). In case of nutrient managements, the highest yield and yield component were obtained from poultry manure @ 2.5 t ha-1 + 50% prilled urea and full dose of inorganic fertilizers and produced the maximum grain yield (5.70 t ha-1). In the interaction of variety and integrated nutrient management, the highest grain yield (6.83 t ha-1) and straw yield (7.61 t ha-1) was obtained from poultry manure @ 2.5 t ha-1 + 50% prilled urea and full dose of inorganic fertilizers with BRRI dhan29 variety. So, BRRI dhan29 with 2.5 t ha-1 poultry manure + 50% prilled urea and full dose of the recommended inorganic fertilizers might be a promising practice for boro rice cultivation.

Effect of Different Forms and Levels of Urea Fertilizer on Rice (Oryza sativa L) and Mineral Nitrogen Status in Soil

Field experiment was conducted to determine the effect of prilled urea (PU) and urea super granule (USG) with their different nitrogen levels (N1 : 70, N2 : 100 and N3 : 130% of the recommended dose) on rice and NH4+-N/NO3- -N in post-harvest soil. Experiment was laid out in a randomized completely block design with three replications at Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) Farm, Mymensingh, Bangladesh during 2015-16. Higher yield attributing characters (plant height, effective tiller panicle-1, panicle length were achieved from USG × N2 treatment. USG, N2 (100% N) and USG × N2 produced the highest grain (3.60, 3.64, 3.78 t ha-1) and straw yield (3.55, 3.45, 3.70 t ha-1) respectively. Though USG × N3 treatment produced the highest effective tiller, panicle length and unfilled grain but USG × N2 treatment produced maximum grain yield of rice due to higher filled grain. In respect of mineral nitrogen, NH4+-N was decreased with the increase in soil depth but opposite result was found in NO3- -N in soil. Deep placement of USG fertilizer released NH4+-N slowly and steadily compared to prilled urea in soil. As a result, one time fertilizer application of USG is better than three times broadcast application of PU in terms of crop yield, nitrogen status in different depth of soil and labour cost. Future research needs to develop the effective USG fertilizer applicator for deep placement in soil during crop production.

Effect of Mulch Materials and Nitrogen Source on the Performance of Tomato in the South-Western Coastal Area of Bangladesh

The major cropping pattern in the South-western coastal area of Bangladesh is transplanted aman rice followed by fallow during the rabi season (November to March) and kharif-I (April-July) season. Crop production during rabi season is limited due to various ecological factors including soil salinity, lack of fresh irrigation water, short winter period, late harvest of previous aman rice, heavy clay soil etc. Tomato is a popular winter crop in that area which is mainly cultivated around homestead and ridges of fish pond, where soil salinity and tillage is not a major problem. An attempt was taken to grow tomato in Khulna district of Bangladesh after T. Aman rice harvest during 2018–19 in order to investigate tomato performance at different mulch materials and Nitrogen sources. The two factors experiment was carried out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Mulch materials viz. rice straw (M1), black polythene (M2) and no mulch (M3) were employed as factor one and nitrogen source viz. prilled urea (N1) and urea super granule (N2) were assigned as factor two. Results showed that there was no interaction effect of mulch and nitrogen treatments. Single effect of mulch and nitrogen treatments showed that highest fruit yield was found from rice straw (M1) (17.32 t ha−1) and prilled urea (N2) (15.64 t ha−1), respectively. So, tomato can be grown with rice straw mulch along with prilled urea for higher economic return (MBCR 2.24).

Performance of Prilled Urea and Urea Super Granule by Applicators on Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Boro Rice

A field experiment was conducted on validation of prilled urea (PU) and urea super granule (USG) applied by applicators on yield and nitrogen use efficiency during Boro 2014 season at Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) farm, Gazipur (AEZ 28). Six treatment combinations of different N doses and methods of N application were tested to compare urea-N application by PU and USG applicator for rice yield, N uptake and N use efficiency over urea broadcasting. Application of N as PU or USG through applicator has same effect on grain yield, N uptake and N use efficiency compared with urea broadcasting. Statistically similar grain yield were observed with N application as PU or USG @ 78 kg N ha-1 by applicator which was comparable with urea broadcasting @ 135 kg N ha-1. The N concentration and uptake in both panicle initiation (PI) and maturity stage were higher in USG deep placement than PU deep placement by applicators but the difference was not significant. Although agronomic use efficiency (AUE) of N was slightly higher in PU than USG applied by applicators but the recovery efficiency (RE) of N was higher in USG than PU. Bangladesh Rice j. 2018, 22(2): 63-69

Study of nitrogen use efficiency and yield of rice influenced by deep placement of nitrogen fertilizers

Continuous increase of nitrogen fertilizer use adversely affecting the soil health as well as the environment. It necessitates the systematic study of the impact of nitrogen (N) fertilizer use-reduction on crop yield. In this article, the effects of deep placement of nitrogen fertilizers on nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and yield of rice variety “BRRI dhan46” were investigated and compared for three N formulations: urea super granule (USG), NPK briquettes and prilled urea (PU). The experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with eight N treatments replicated three times. The treatments were applied by varying doses (0, 52, 78 and 104 kg ha-1) of nitrogen fertilizers in a known identical soil and weather condition. Applications of PU, USG and NPK briquettes exhibited significant differences on yield attributes of rice. Results revealed maximum grain yield of 6.391 t ha-1 (54% increases over control) for the dose USG 104 kg ha-1 which is statistically similar to the dose USG 78 kg ha-1 and NPK briquettes 104 kg ha-1. The deep placement of USG and NPK briquettes enhanced both the recovery of applied N and N use efficiency compared to broadcast application of prilled urea. However, USG 78 kg ha-1 showed maximum apparent N recovery, N use efficiency, gross margin and marginal benefit-cost ratio. Thus, an application of 78 kg ha-1 USG can be recommended for profitable cultivation of rice variety BRRI dhan46. SAARC J. Agri., 17(1): 93-103 (2019)

Nitrogen use efficiency and yield of BRRI dhan49 as influenced by different forms of N fertilizers under AWD condition

An experiment was conducted at the Soil Science Field Laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during Aman season of 2016 to evaluate the effects of deep placement of N fertilizers in the form of urea super granule (USG) and NPK briquettes in comparison with prilled urea (PU) on nitrogen use efficiency and yield of BRRI dhan49. The soil was silt loam in texture having pH 6.27, organic matter content 1.95% and total N 0.136%. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with eight treatments and three replications. The treatments include T1 (Control), T2 (PU, 104 kg N ha-1), T3 (USG, 104 kg N ha- 1), T4 (USG 78 kg N ha-1), T5 (USG, 52 kg N ha-1), T6 (NPK briquettes, 104 kg N ha-1), T7 (NPK briquettes, 78 kg N ha-1) and T8 (NPK briquettes, 52 kg N ha-1). All the treatments except T6, T7 and T8 received 16 kg P and 42 kg K ha-1 from TSP and MoP, respectively. In T6, T7 and T8 treatments, P and K were supplied from NPK briquettes. The PU was applied in three equal splits. The USG and NPK briquettes were deep placed 10 DAT and the briquettes were placed at 8-10 cm depth between four hills at alternate rows. Application of PU, USG and NPK briquette under alternate wetting and drying (AWD) condition exerted significant influence on yield attributes as well as grain and straw yields of BRRI dhan49. The maximum grain yield of 6311 kg ha-1 (100% increases over control) and straw yield of 6956 kg ha-1 was recorded in T3 (USG, 104 kg N ha-1). The second highest grain yield of 5865 kg ha-1 produced by T2 (PU, 104 kg N ha-1) was statistically similar with T4 (USG 78 kg N ha-1) and T6 (NPK briquettes, 104 kg N ha-1). The lowest grain yield (3155 kg ha-1) and straw yield (3908 kg ha-1) were recorded in T1 (Control). The deep placement of USG and NPK briquettes enhanced both the recovery of applied N and N use efficiency in comparison with broadcast application of prilled urea. The T5 (USG, 52 kg N ha-1) showed maximum apparent N recovery, and N use efficiency. Next to T5, the T4 depicted the position in respect of N recovery and N use efficiency. So the application of 78 kg N ha-1 in the form of USG can be recommended for the production of BRRI dhan49. Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.6(1): 27-33, April 2019