Nitrogen use efficiency and performance of rice to the application of slow release nitrogen fertilizer under waterlogged conditions in North Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Highly soluble N fertilizers like urea may be lost from the soil plant system through leaching, ammonia (NH3) volatilization and denitrification that reduce NUE and yield. The study was conducted to determine the effects of UREA Stabil on enhancement of nitrogen utilization efficiencies of rice crop and to evaluate the influence of UREA Stabil on growth and yield of rice under waterlogged conditions of Fogera area. Treatments were comprised, control, recommended N from conventional urea (as basal and tillering), recommended N from UREA Stabil fertilizer applied once as basal, recommended N from UREA Stabil (split as basal and tillering), half below the recommended N from UREA Stabil as basal, half more than the recommended N from UREA Stabil (split as basal and tillering), half more than the recommended N from conventional urea (split as basal and tillering), half more than the recommended N from UREA Stabil as basal. Data were collected plant height, total tiller number, panicle length, number of fertile grains, thousand seed weight, grain yield, straw yield and harvest Index. Highly significantly (P<0.01) affected grain yield (3.55 t ha-1) was recorded on 136.5 kg N ha -1 in split application 45.5 kg N ha -1 as basal and 91 kg N ha -1 tillering stage from UREA Stabil source. Conventional urea source of N, application of 136.5 kg N ha -1 in split application (45.5 kg ha -1 as basal and 91 kg ha -1 tillering stage was provided higher yield (3.14) which is statistically non-significant compared to slow-release fertilizer. The economic analysis has further revealed that application of 136.5 kg N ha -1 from UREA Stabil in split application of 45.5 kg N ha -1 as basal and 91 kg N ha -1 tillering stage provided highest net benefit of Birr 47,356 ha-1 was the most profitable treatment for lowland rice production. Application of 136.5 kg N ha -1