EFFECT OF COW URINE (GOMUTRA) AS A SOURCE OF NITROGEN ON GROWTH, YIELD AND NITROGEN UPTAKE IN RICE (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) is an important food crop. The demand for rice continues to increase owing to continued growth of population. It is predi cted that a 50% to 60% increase in rice production will be required to meet demand by 2025 in India. Cow urine (Gomutra) is used for several centuries in different ways in many parts of the world. Cow urine contains nitrogen constituents in different amounts and may be used as source of nitrogen for p lant nutrition. Hence, the present study was taken up to evaluate the effect of cow urine on growth yield and nutrient uptake of rice. Accordingly, a field experiment was conducted during kharif 2017at crop cafeteria of BHUKrishi Vigyan Kendra, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rajiv Gandhi South campus, Barkachha, Mirzapur (Banaras Hindu University) in randomized block design taking rice variety Shusk Samrat as a test crop. The soil of the study region was red soil having pH 7.8, EC 0.6 7 dS m-1, organic carbon 0.42%, available N 185.3, P 9.6, K 189 and S 9.4 kg ha-1and available micronutrient Fe 32.6, Mn 18.6, Zn 2.26, Cu 2.1 and Boron 0.98 mg kg -1. The experiment consisted of five treatments comprising T1 (controlno input), T2 (N at 120 kg ha-1), T3 (N at 150 kg ha-1), T4 (N at 120 kg ha-1 + cow urine) and T5 (N at 100 kg ha-1) taking four replications in randomized block design. Cow urine procured from same cow was applied weekly up to six weeks from the date of transplanting. The results of the study revealed that paddy crop favourably responded to different levels of nitrogen through fertilizer alone and in combination of cow urine. Plant growth (plant height, number of tiller) and yield (grain and straw) significantly increased as compared to control by the application of nitrogen. Applica tion of N at 120 kg ha-1 + cow urine registered maximum dry matter production. Without cow urine, application of nitrogen at 150 kg ha -1 recorded higher yield than control and 120 kg ha-1 level. Nitrogen content in plant (grain and straw) and uptake were also found maximum when nitrogen was applied at 120 kg ha -1 + cow urine. Key wordsRice, Cow urine