Strategic Switching from Conventional Urea to Nano-Urea for Sustaining the Rice-Wheat Cropping System

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Agronomy
• Plant Physiology

Background:

• Declining crop yields and inefficient fertilizer use are critical issues in India.
• Conventional NPK fertilizers face challenges with nutrient depletion and limited water availability.
• Investigating novel nitrogen sources like nano-nitrogen is crucial for sustainable agriculture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of nano-nitrogen as a substitute for conventional urea in enhancing crop growth and photosynthetic efficiency.
• To compare the effects of varying nano-nitrogen substitution levels on morphological, physiological, and yield attributes of rice and wheat.
• To determine the optimal nano-nitrogen replacement level for balancing crop productivity and nitrogen availability.

Main Methods:

• A randomized block design (RBD) field experiment with six nitrogen treatments was conducted.
• Treatments included no nitrogen, 100% urea, and 33%, 50%, 66%, and 100% N replacement with nano-nitrogen.
• Morphological, physiological, and yield traits were measured at physiological maturity and harvest.

Main Results:

• 33% nano-nitrogen replacement (T3) improved physiological traits and grain yield compared to 100% urea (T2).
• T3 achieved higher yields (3789 kg/ha rice, 4206 kg/ha wheat) than T2 (3737 kg/ha rice, 4183 kg/ha wheat).
• Higher nano-nitrogen substitution levels (50-100%) reduced wheat yield and key N-metabolism enzymes, while nitrogen availability was maximal in T2 and T3.

Conclusions:

• Nano-nitrogen is an effective strategy for enhancing crop growth and yield.
• A 33% replacement of urea with nano-nitrogen offers a promising balance between productivity and environmental sustainability.
• Optimizing nano-nitrogen application can improve nutrient use efficiency and mitigate challenges in conventional fertilization.