Study on Effect of Replacing Urea Top Dressing by Nano Urea on Yield and Quality of Direct Seeded Rice (Oryza sativa L.) under Rainfed Condition

Field experiment on effect of replacing urea top dressing by nano urea on yield and quality of direct seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.) under rainfed condition was conducted on clay soils during kharif season, 2023 at Central Agricultural University, Iroisemba, Imphal to evaluate the possibility of replacing urea top dressing by nano urea and its efficacy. Initial soil of the experimental field was acidic (pH 5.25). Replacing urea top dressing by nano urea had significant effect on the yield attributing characters. Highest yield attributes were observed under top dress (urea) at active tillering + nano urea (foliar spray) at panicle initiation + nano urea (foliar spray) at heading (T₆). The nutrient uptake (NPK), in T₆ was the highest. On the basis of above findings, it can be inferred that foliar application of nano urea twice at panicle initiation and heading stages can effectively replace urea top dressing at panicle initiation stage of crop growth.