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EFFECT OF ENCAPSULATED CALCIUM CARBIDE ON GROWTH, YIELD AND N USE EFFICIENCY OF RICE (ORYZA SATIVA L.)

MUHAMMAD YASEEN^*, SYED AZHER HUSSAIN, SAIF UR REHMAN KASHIF AND MUHAMMAD ARSHAD

Abstract: A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential of encapsulated CaC₂ on plant growth and yield of rice. Application of encapsulated CaC₂ in combination with recommended dose of N fertilizer significantly increased number of tillers, straw and paddy yield compared to N fertilizer application alone. Maximum number of tillers m^-2 and paddy yield was observed where encapsulated CaC₂ @ 60 kg ha^-1 was applied with N fertilizer @ 60 kg ha^-1 applied two weeks after transplanting. Results revealed that half of the recommended dose of N produced maximum paddy yield just with addition of CaC₂ @ 60 kg ha^-1 than that of full dose of N fertilizer. Moreover, application of encapsulated CaC₂ resulted in higher N-use efficiency by rice crop than that observed with N fertilizer alone. Maximum agronomic, apparent and physiological efficiencies were observed where CaC₂ plus N fertilizer (each applied @ 60 kg ha^-1) was applied. These findings indicated that CaC₂ affects plant growth by improving N-use efficiency in addition to a hormonal action
 

Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan.