Assessing the Combined Effects of Nano-urea, Potassium Silicate and Micronutrients on Growth and Yield of Rice

Abstract

Recently, Rice production has experienced fluctuation and stagnation due to unpredictable climatic conditions and declining soil fertility. Consequently, a field experiment was undertaken to evaluate the impact of nano urea, potassium silicate, and micronutrients on the growth and yield of Rice in the context of South Gujarat. This investigation was conducted over two consecutive seasons. The experiment was designed as a randomized block design, incorporating nine treatments and three replications. The two-year study revealed that the application of the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) nitrogen via nano urea, in conjunction with potassium silicate and micronutrients, resulted in significantly highest plant height (103.5 cm and 100.6 cm) and the number of tillers hill-1 (17.11 and 17.79) during the years 2022 and 2023, respectively. This treatment also produced the highest number of productive tillers hill-1 (15.17), grain yield (59.02 q ha-1), and straw yield (52.26 q ha-1) in 2022. But during the year 2023, significantly highest number of productive tillers hill-1 (14.92), grain yield (57.71 q ha-1) and straw yield (50.33 q ha-1) was recorded due to the application of recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) along with potassium silicate and micronutrients. Furthermore, the statistically highest number of grains panicle-1 (154.90 and 142.64), as well as the number of filled grains panicle-1 (148.33 and 135.74) and grain filling percentage (95.76% and 95.16%), were observed in treatment T8, which involved the application of the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) along with potassium silicate and micronutrients during both experimental years, 2022 and 2023. Based on the results of two years experiment, it is recommended to apply the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) nitrogen through urea, potassium silicate, and micronutrients to achieve optimal growth and yield of Rice in South Gujarat.