PJB-2005-75
EFFECT OF SOIL APPLIED ENCAPSULATED CALCIUM CARBIDE ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF RICE (ORYZA SATIVA L.)
MUHAMMAD YASEEN, MUHAMMAD ARSHAD AND ABDUL RAHIM
Abstract
Poor N fertilizer use efficiency by rice is caused by losses of N through volatilization as its oxides. Use of nitrification inhibitor like calcium carbide (CaC2) may reduce N losses. Calcium carbide releases acetylene gas which acts as a inhibitor of nitrification. A fraction of acetylene is microbially reduced to ethylene which is a potent plant hormone. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of encapsulated CaC2on growth and chemical composition of rice (Oryza sativa L.). The results revealed that encapsulated CaC2 applied alone or along with chemical fertilizer significantly increased early emergence of panicle, number of tillers and paddy yield. Soil amended with encapsulated CaC2 resulted in 20% increase in paddy yield over NPK fertilizer alone. Plant analysis also indicated that encapsulated CaC2 promoted N concentration and uptake by plant which is supported by the reduced oxidation of applied fertilizer NH4+ to NO3- in the presence of encapsulated CaC2. It is plausible likely that CaC2 might have affected growth and chemical composition of rice by acting as nitrification inhibitor and/ or as a source of plant hormone ethylene.
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