Enhancing Paddy Yields with Advanced Nitrogen Fertilizers: A Study of Neem-coated Urea, Agrotain Urea and Nano Nitrogen

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate and compare the performance of nano nitrogen, agrotain urea, and neem-coated urea in improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), crop yield, and sustainability in kharif (Vanakalam) and rabi (Yasangi) rice crops in the Southern Telangana Zone of India. Study Design: A field experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with 11 treatments and three replications to assess the effects of various nitrogen sources and application on rice productivity. Place and Duration of Study: The field study was planned from 2021 to 2023 at Institute of Soil Health Management, Agricultural Research Institute, PJTSAU, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, from 2021 to 2023. Methodology: The experiment included treatments with varying nitrogen levels applied through nano nitrogen, agrotain urea, and neem-coated urea, including 100% Recommended Dose of Nitrogen (RDN), STCR (Soil Test Crop Response) based nitrogen, and reduced nitrogen doses (50% and 33% RDN). Dry matter yield at tillering, panicle initiation and harvest stages, grain and straw yield were measured at key growth stages (tillering, panicle initiation, and harvest) of rice crop. Results: In the kharif season, the highest dry matter yield at panicle initiation was recorded with 100% RDN using STCR based neem coated urea (7007 kg ha⁻¹), followed by agrotain urea (6199 kg ha⁻¹) and Neem coated urea (6019 kg ha⁻¹). Nano-ntrogen sprays with reduced nitrogen doses (50% and 33% RDN) showed significantly lower yields, with 50% RDN-STCR-based NCU yielding 5826 kg ha⁻¹ and 33% RDN-STCR-based NCU yielding 4899 kg ha⁻¹. In the rabi season, grain yields were highest with 100% RDN from STCR based N-NCU (7382 kg ha⁻¹), Agrotain urea (6741 kg ha⁻¹) and NCU (6561 kg ha⁻¹), while reduced nitrogen doses resulted in lower yields, ranging from 5886 kg ha⁻¹ (50% RDN) to 5142 kg ha⁻¹ (33% RDN) with STCR based N-NCU. Straw yield during kharif was highest with 100% RDN treatments (6540–7422 kg ha⁻¹), with reduced nitrogen doses and Nano-N sprays resulting in lower yields. The system straw yield showed the highest values with 100% RDN-STCR-based NCU (16277 kg ha⁻¹), followed by agrotain urea (14888 kg ha⁻¹) and NCU (14284 kg ha⁻¹). Nano-N sprays alone produced a system straw yield of 8119 kg ha⁻¹, higher than the control (7732 kg ha⁻¹), but significantly lower than 100% nitrogen treatments. Conclusion: Full nitrogen applications (100% RDN) through innovative fertilizers like agrotain urea, and neem coated urea resulted in significantly higher crop yields and nutrient uptake compared to reduced nitrogen doses. The study highlights the critical role of adequate nitrogen in improving nitrogen use efficiency and sustaining rice production systems, with substantial yield gains observed at 100% RDN (up to 44% for grain yield and 37% for straw yield).