Effect of Slow-Release Nitrogen Fertilizer and Foliar Spray of Nano Zinc on Growth and Yield of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

A field experiment took place on Crop Research Farm at Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj (U.P) India during the Kharif season of 2021. The Soil of the experimental plot was sandy loam, having a nearly neutral soil reaction (pH 6.9), electrical conductivity 0.29 ds/m, available nitrogen (278.93 kg/ha), available phosphorous (10.8 kg/ha), and available potassium (206.4 kg/ha). The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) which consisted of nine treatment and replicated thrice viz., T1: Neem Coated Urea 80 kg/ha + Nano Zinc 0.5 g/l, T2: Neem Coated Urea 80 kg/ha + Nano Zinc 1.0 g/l, T3: Neem Coated Urea 80 kg/ha + Nano Zinc 1.5 g/l, T4: Neem Coated Urea 100 kg/ha + Nano Zinc 0.5 g/l, T5: Neem Coated Urea 100 kg/ha + Nano Zinc 1.0 g/l, T6: Neem Coated Urea 100 kg/ha + Nano Zinc 1.5 g/l, T7: Neem Coated Urea 120 kg/ha + Nano Zinc 0.5 g/l, T8: Neem Coated Urea 120 kg/ha + Nano Zinc 1.0 g/l and T9: Neem Coated Urea 120 kg/ha + Nano Zinc 1.5 g/l. The result of the experiment showed that growth parameters viz., plant height (88.41 cm), number of tillers/hill (14.78) and plant dry weight (85.81 g) were significantly increased when the increase in the levels of Neem coated urea + Nano zinc and maximum was obtained with the application of Neem coated urea 120 kg/ha + Nano zinc 1.5 g/l (T9) and yield attributes viz., number of effective tillers/m2 (311.29), number of grains/panicle (97.35), grain yield (5.48 t/ha) and straw yield (11.45 t/ha) were also recorded maximum in treatment Neem coated urea 120kg/ha + Nano zinc 1.5 g/l (T9).