Increased yield of direct seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.) by foliar fertilization through multi-component fertilizers

Foliar application of fertilizers can guarantee the availability of nutrients to rice for obtaining higher yield. Rice responds favorably to macro-and micronutrients and the tolerance to salinity hazards improves by decreasing the N/S ratio. In this study, results showed that nutrient concentrations (g L-1) for rice are: nitrogen (N) 108.0, phosphorous (P2O5) 6, potassium (K2O) 81.0, calcium (CaO) 15.0, and magnesium (MgO) 6 g L-1; and for iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), cupper (Cu), boron (B), molybdenum (Mo) and silicon (Si) the recommended concentrations are 0.6, 0.45, 0.21, 0.06, 0.09, 0.0002 and 0.004 g L-1, respectively. A significant increase was recorded in number of panicles m(-2), 1000 grain weight, biological yield and grain yield with foliar application of nutrients. Five foliar applications of nutrients resulted in maximum number of panicles m(-2), grains panicle(-1), 1000 grain weight and biological yield. It is concluded that five foliar applications of balanced amounts of fertilizers at the seedling stage (two sprays), tillering (single spray) and at panicle initiation and panicle differentiation (two sprays) helped in enhancing yield and yield components of rice. In this research, five foliar applications produced the smallest damaging effects of blast (Pyricularia oryzae) in rice.