Effect of ammonium and nitrate nitrogen on growth, and yield of rice

Investigations were carried out to study the effect of nitrate and ammonium forms of nitrogen on growth and yield of two rice cultivars viz., Jaya and Basmati. Nitrogen was applied as ammonium sulphate and potassium nitrate and data on morphological parameters, yield and yield attributers were recorded. The results show that NH₄- N increased the plant growth over NO₃- N conspicuously early stages from the of growth. The higher yield achieved by ammonium application is mainly through, increased number of productive tillers (ear heads) and total grain number. It appears that yield differences were initiated by higher rate of tillering and leaf expansion with NH₄-N during the early stage of growth when most of the yield attributes are determined.