Coated Urea Materials for Improving Yields, Profitability, and Nutrient Use Efficiencies of Aromatic Rice

Abstract

Intensive cultivation and introduction of input‐responsive high‐yielding varieties with application of major nutrients in rice–wheat rotation of Indo‐Gangetic plains (IGPs) lead to multiple nutrient deficiencies. A survey of Indian soils has shown that 40% are deficient in available zinc (Zn), 33% in sulfur (S), and 33% in boron (B). Studies have indicated that application of these nutrients with major nutrients can improve the crop productivity. Keeping the importance of aromatic rice in view, coated‐urea materials and their effects on rice yields, nitrogen (N), and Zn content in different parts and input economics are evaluated. Three field trials are conducted on aromatic rice to test boron‐coated urea (BCU), sulfur‐coated urea (SCU), and zinc‐coated urea (ZnCU) in 2013 and 2014. Results indicate that the highest yields are obtained with 0.5% BCU, 5.0% SCU, and 2.5% ZnCU as zinc sulfate heptahydrate. These treatments increase grain yield by 13%, 25%, and 17.9% over prilled urea (PU). Moreover, 0.5% BCU, 5% SCU, and 2.5% ZnCU register the highest N, S, and Zn contents in bran, husk, grain, and straw. Coated‐urea materials also improve use efficiencies and harvest index of N and Zn over PU. The findings of this study suggest that 0.5% boron, 5.0% sulfur, or 2.5% zinc‐coated urea show improvement in returns and benefit–cost ratio in aromatic rice of western IGPs.

Efficiency of Various Formulations of Urea Coated with Bioaugmented (<i>Bacillus</i> sp.) ZnO to Improve Growth, Yield and Zn Contents of Wheat Grains

“…Babar et al [35] reported that the application of urea coated with Zn and copper showed a reduction in ammonia volatilization and maximized the N-uptake. Likewise, Shivay et al [36] applied urea coated with boron, sulfur, and Zn and reported an improvement in nutrient use efficiencies and harvest index. These urea-coated fertilizers showed an increase in grain yield of up to 13%, 25%, and 17.9% as compared to prilled urea.…”

Foliar Nutrient Supplementation with Micronutrient-Embedded Fertilizer Increases Biofortification in Eggplant Fruit and Soil Biological Activity While Enhancing Plant Productivity

“…Most eggplant farmers apply only primarynutrient fertilizers which leads to low and variable crop yields and sub-optimal nutrient concentrations in the fruit. The ongoing use of primary-nutrient fertilizers combined with limited use of organic or micronutrient fertilizers has led to multi-nutrient de ciencies in the majority of soils in the Indian subcontinent [6][7] . Across India, approximately 89, 80 and 50 % of the arable soils are de cient in N, P and K, respectively.…”

“…Across India, approximately 89, 80 and 50 % of the arable soils are de cient in N, P and K, respectively. Further, zinc (Zn), boron (B), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), and copper (Cu) de ciencies have been reported in around 40, 33, 12, 5, 11 and 3 % of Indian soils, respectively [7][8][9] . Similarly, up to 51 % of the arable soils in China are de cient in Zn, with de ciencies in Mo, N, Mn, Cu and Fe in 47, 34.5, 21, 7 and 5 % of farmland soils, respectively, with large macronutrient (i.e.…”

“…N, P, K) de ciencies also 10 . Considering the widespread multi-nutrient de ciencies in soils on which eggplants are grown, e cient nutrient management strategies to overcome these de ciencies are vitally important 7 .…”

“…Additionally, crop cultivation in nutrient-de cient soils results in foods with low nutrient concentrations, particularly of micronutrients, which contributes to malnutrition and hidden hunger in many emerging-economy countries [13][14] . Globally, micronutrient malnutrition, arising either from inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables or from consumption of foods which are low or de cient in essential micronutrients, results in approximately 1.7 million deaths annually 7,15,16 . Eating foods which have been bioforti ed to increase their micronutrient content is a useful pathway to overcome malnutrition for many 7,13 .…”