Influence of Levels and Methods of N Application on the Yield and Nutrition of Rice in a Sodic Soil

A field experiment was conducted at Karnal to evaluate the effect of urea levels and their methods of application (before and after puddling) and duration of pre-submergence prior to transplanting on yield and mineral composition of rice on a sodic soil. Increasing levels of N before puddling and one week of pre-submergence increased grain and straw yield and N uptake significantly. Application of N increased N, P and Cu concentration and decreased that of K, Zn, Mn and Fe concentration in the crop. Method of N application had no significant effect on concentration' of nutrients except N, whereas one week of pre-submergence increased the concentration of all the nutrients in the crop, the effects being more pronounced in 30-day-old plants.