Influence of Liquid Nano Urea Fertilizer on Growth and Yield of Summer Rice (Oryza sativa L.) under South Gujarat Conditions

A field experiment was conducted during summer season for two consecutive years (2022-2023) at Navsari, Gujarat to study the effect of liquid Nano urea fertilizer on summer rice (Oryza sativa L.) under South Gujarat conditions. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications and twelve treatments comprising T1: 100 % RDN (Recommended dose of nitrogen) through urea (120 kg N ha-1), T2: 75 % RDN + Seedling root dip in Nano urea at transplanting (TP) (4 ml L-1), T3: 50 % RDN + Seedling root dip in Nano urea at TP (4 ml L-1), T4: 25 % RDN + Seedling root dip in Nano urea at TP (4 ml L-1), T5: 75 % RDN + Spray of Nano urea at tillering stage (4 ml L-1), T6: 50 % RDN + Spray of Nano urea at tillering stag (4 ml L-1), T7: 25 % RDN + Spray of Nano urea at tillering stage (4 ml L-1), T8: 75 % RDN + Spray of Nano urea at tillering and panicle initiation stage (4 ml L-1), T9: 50 % RDN + Spray of Nano urea at tillering and panicle initiation stage (4 ml L-1), T10: 25 % RDN + Spray of Nano urea at tillering and panicle initiation stage (4 ml L-1), T11: Spray of Nano urea at tillering and panicle initiation stage (4 ml L-1) and T12: Seedling root dip in Nano urea at TP + Spray of Nano urea at tillering and panicle initiation stage (4 ml L-1). Application of 75 % RDN + Spray of Nano urea at tillering and panicle initiation stage (4 ml L-1) obtain significantly higher growth attributes viz., periodical plant height, number of tillers plant-1, dry matter accumulation plant-1, chlorophyll content and growth indices including leaf area index (LAI) at 60 and 90 DAS, crop growth rate (CGR), relative growth rate (RGR) and net assimilation rate (NAR) during 30-60 DAS, 60-90 DAS, and 90 DAS-Harvest. Similarly, significantly higher grain yield was produced under treatment T8 (4435 kg ha-1) which was 3.24% higher than 100% RDN through conventional urea.