EFFECTS OF FOLIAR APPLICATION OF UREA FERTILIZER AND MAGIC GROWTH LIQUID FERTILIZER ON THE GROWTH, YIELD AND NUTRIENT CONTENT OF AMAN RICE CULTIVARS

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the Farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka-1207 during the Aman season from July to December, 2013 to find out the effect of foliar application of urea along with magic growth spray on the growth, yield and nutrient content of two Aman rice cultivars. The two factorial experiment was laid out in a RCBD design with three replications. Factor A: two varieties fV1-Bina-sail, V2-BRRI dhan461, and factor B: different nitrogen doses and application methods[TrN0 (No nitrogen applied), Tl N,10% (Urea was applied only 10% of the recommended dose (RD) with magic growth as foliar spray), T2 N501.5% (50% Urea was applied as top dressing and 5% Urea was applied with magic growth as foliar spray), T3=N50+1091. (50% Urea was applied as top dressing and 10% Urea was applied with magic growth as foliar spray). T4=N7$+$% (75% Urea was applied as top dressing and 5% Urea was applied with magic growth as foliar spray), T5=N7$.10% (75% Urea was applied as top dressing and 10% Urea was applied with magic growth as foliar spray), T6=N100 (100% of RD of N applied as Urea topdressing), T7=N100+10./0 (100% Urea was applied as top dressing and 10% Urea was applied with magic growth as foliar spray)]. BRRI dhan46 showed better performance than Bina-sail and 75% Urea top dressing and 10% Urea with magic growth as foliar spray gave higher results in most growth, yield and yield related parameters. In case of interaction. BRRI dhan46 and 75% Urea top dressing and 10% Urea with magic growth as foliar spray gave higher number of effective tillers hilr', longer panicle, higher number of filled grains panicl&' & total grains panic!e', higher 1000-grain weight, higher grain yield and straw yield. N, P and K content in grain showed statistically non-significant difference due to the varietal effect. 75% Urea top dressing and 10% Urea with magic growth as foliar spray gave higher N, P and K content in grain. interaction of BRRI dhan46 and 75% Urea top dressing and 10% Urea with magic growth as foliar spray gave higher N, P and K content in grain. Moreover, 75% Urea top dressing and 10% Urea of the recommended dose with magic growth as foliar spray increased 8.27% grain yield with a saving of 15% of the recommended nitrogen fertilizer compared to recommended practice.