Effects of Prilled Urea, Urea Briquettes and NPK Briquettes on the Growth, Yield and Nitrogen use Efficiency of BRRI Dhan48

Abstract

Nitrogen is one of the most deficient plant nutrients in Bangladesh soils. The use nitrogenous fertilizer especially urea is a commonly used fertilizer for rice production but its efficiency very low about 30-40% under traditional broadcast method A field experiment was carried out in the Soil Science Field Laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during Aus rice growing season of 2014 to investigate the effects of prilled urea, urea briquettes and NPK briquettes on the growth, yield, and nitrogen use efficiency of BRRI dhan48. There were six treatments as T1 [check (N0P16K42], T2 [Urea briquette (one-3.4 g) (N52P16K42)], T3 (Urea briquette (one-2.7 g (N78P16K42)], T4 [NPK briquette (one-3.4g)(N51P13K32], T5 [Prilled urea (N78P16K42)] and T6 [NPK briquettes(two-2.4 g briquettes (N78P15K42)]. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with six treatments and four replications. Prilled urea was applied in two equal splits application; at 8 days after transplanting (DAT) and the second dose after 38 DAT, while for urea briquettes and NPK briquettes were deep placed (8-10 cm depth) at 8 DAT between four hills at alternate rows. Water samples were collected for every 7 consecutive days and analyzed for NH4-N. The results showed that the NH4-N concentration in floodwater reached to maximum on day 2 in PU treated plots and then decreased with time, while the urea briquettes and NPK briquettes treated plots slowly produced NH4-N over the growth period. The highest grain yield of 4.75 t ha-1 (69% over control) was obtained in the treatment T3 [Urea briquette (one-2.7g) (N78P16K42)]. The treatment T3 also produced the highest straw yield of 5.49 t ha-1. The maximum apparent N recovery and the maximum N use efficiency were found in the treatment T4 [NPK briquette (one-3.4g) (N51P13K32)]. It appeared that the deep placement of urea briquettes and NPK briquettes reduced N-losses and enhanced the recovery of applied N as well as N use efficiency in comparison with PU application.

Effects of NPKS Granular and Briquette Fertilizers on Some Soil Chemical Properties and Yield Parameters of Maize (Zea mays L.)

“…The use of fertilizers either granular or briquette form is highly needed to replenish nutrients taken out from the soil by harvested crops and to supplement more nutrients to boost yield [6]. Fertilizer briquettes are made by compressing organic or inorganic fertilizers into a solid form and are designed to provide nutrients to plants while also being easy to transport and store [7,8]. Unlike granular fertilizer, which can be messy and difficult to handle, briquettes can be easily transported in bags or containers and stored in a dry, cool place until they are needed.…”

Biochar research advancement in Bangladesh: challenges and opportunities of biochar in improving soil health

“…Therefore, nitrogenous fertilizers are widely utilized for getting maximum crop yield. But, their efficiency is only approximately 30-40% (Sharna et al, 2021). It is estimated that there is a requirement for 3 million metric tons of urea fertilizer in Bangladesh (BBS, 2020).…”