Interactive Effect of Nitrogen and Silicon Levels on Yield and Yield Attributes of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the kharif seasons of 2024 and 2025 at the Experimental Farm, Department of Agronomy, School of Agricultural Sciences, Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, to evaluate the effects of different nitrogen and silicon levels on the yield attributes and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.). The experiment was laid out in a Randomised Block Design with three replications and comprised nine treatment combinations involving the recommended dose of fertilisers (RDF) and varying levels of silicon applied through broadcasting and foliar application. The results showed that silicon application significantly influenced the yield attributes and yield of rice. Among the treatments, RDF combined with 120 kg Si ha⁻¹ through broadcasting (T₅) recorded the highest number of panicles (286.78 m⁻²), panicle length (26.08 cm), grains per panicle (83.06), and test weight (26.18 g). The same treatment also produced the maximum grain yield (5365.44 kg ha⁻¹), straw yield (7759.62 kg ha⁻¹), and harvest index (42.76%), which were significantly superior to the other treatments. The improvement in yield and yield attributes may be attributed to enhanced nutrient uptake, increased photosynthetic efficiency, better grain filling, and improved assimilate translocation under silicon application. The study indicated that the combined application of RDF and 120 kg Si ha⁻¹ through broadcasting is an effective nutrient management strategy for maximising rice productivity under the agro-climatic conditions of western Uttar Pradesh.