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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.
 

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