Nano Urea Integration with Varietal Choice for Optimizing Productivity, Nutrient Uptake, and Economic Efficiency in Hybrid Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharif (July–November) 2023 at the Central Research Farm, Gayeshpur, BCKV, Nadia, West Bengal, India to evaluate the effects of nano urea and rice hybrids under the New Alluvial Zone. The experiment employed a split-plot design with three replications. The main plots comprised of three hybrids: CHR 846, PAN 2423, and GMS 2264, whereas sub-plots included four fertilizer treatments [F1: Recommended dose of fertilizer at 90:45:45 (N: P2O5: K2O) kg ha-1, F2: 75% nitrogen + full P and K + 1 nano urea spray at 2 ml l-1 at 42 DAT, F3: 75% nitrogen + full P and K + 1 nano urea spray at 4 ml l-1 at 42 DAT and F4: 50% nitrogen + full P and K + 2 nano urea spray at 2 ml l-1 at 21 DAT and at 4 ml l-1 at 42 DAT)]. Results of the experiment revealed CHR 846 as the top-performing hybrid with the highest grain (5.89 t ha⁻¹) and straw (6.55 t ha⁻¹) yield. Among fertilizer treatments, F1 achieved the maximum grain (5.76 t ha⁻¹) and straw yield (6.74 t ha⁻¹), with statistically similar performance to F3 followed by F2 and F4. The findings of the experiment also indicated that CHR 846 with the recommended fertilizer dose (F1) was optimal for maximizing yield and profitability in the New Alluvial Zone of West Bengal.