Synopsis of the Proposed Research Project for National Science and

Technology Fellowship 2020-2021

1. Research Title:
In English: Development of Chlorophyll Meter Based Nitrogen Management in T. aman
Rice
In Bangla: ‡K¬v‡ivwdj wgUv‡ii mvnv‡h¨ †ivcv Avgb av‡b bvB‡Uªv‡Rb e¨e¯’vcbvi Dbœqb

Introduction: Nitrogen is the most deficient nutrient element tjpF in Bangladesh soils. An
adequate supply of nitrogen can increase as much as 60% rice yield (Mikkelsen et al., 1995).
Crop demand based N application is one of the important options to reduce N loss and to increase
N use efficiency of a crop. Chlorophyll meter (SPAD) can be used for adjustment of fertilizer N
application based on actual plant status (Balasubramanian et al., 1999). Need based N application
result in greater agronomic efficiency of N fertilizer than the commonly practice method
(Hussain et al., 2000). Nitrogen is plants is generally diagnosed by a soil test and plant tissue
analysis. Such analyses are costly in terms of time and money and are not easily accessible by
researchers and extension workers, let alone farmers. In plants excessive Nitrogen application
prolongs crop duration, the period between leaf appearance and leaf yellowing (Wang et al.,
2011). Nitrogen toxicity in cereal crops leads to low N recovery efficiency and the risk of
groundwater pollution while over fertilizing increases maintenance and labour costs (Wang et al.,
2011). Nitrogen fertilizer should be applied at growth stages when crop nitrogen needs are high
so that applied N is least from the soul plant system. Sufficient N is needed for high yield and
quality of rice. In Bangladesh most research works have so far been focused on the rate and
timing of N application without considering the initial soil nitrogen and crop demand. So, a study
is needed on rice-demand based N management through assessing the chlorophyll meter (SPAD).
3. Objectives:
a. To observe the effect of extra nitrogen application at maximum tiller stage.
b. To establish the role of chlorophyll meter readings in guiding nitrogen application at
maximum tiller stage.
c. To determine the critical values of chlorophyll meter readings for nitrogen application.
4. Methodology:
4.1 Experimental Site: The experiment will be conducted in the Agronomy Field Laboratory.
Dept of Agronomy, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh- 2202. 4.2 Treatment of
experiment:
Nitrogen management
i. 70 kg N ha' in two equal splits at 10 DAT and early tillering.
ii. 80 kg N ha 1 in two equal splits at 10 DAT and early tillering.
iii. iii. 90 kg N ha 1 in two equal splits at 10 DAT and early
tillering.
iv. iv. Extra N applied based on SPAD value .
Variety BRRI dhan 87

4.3 Experimental design and layout

The experiment will be laid out in Randomized complete Block design (RCBD) with three
replication. Each Plot size will be (4 m x2.5 m)
4.4 Statistical Analysis: Data will be collected at different growth stages and finally at
harvesting stage. The collected data will be analyzed statistically using ANOVA and MSTAT- C
and the mean different will be compared by "New duncans multiple range test" (DMRT) and
finally a thesis will be written.

5. Time frame of the research work:

To achieve the required objectives it will take one year with the following schedule:
Activity Months

1. Land preparation and field management 1.5 months

2. Seed sowing and procurement 1 months
3. Other management practices and harvesting 4 months
4. Data collection 2 months
5. Statistical analysis of data 1.5 months
6. Result preparation and thesis writing 2 months
Total 12 months

6. Contribution and Socio-economic importance of the research:

To established easy, economic and sustainable methods for nitrogen management along with
better yield is the main goal of the study. In our country farmers likely apply excess nitrogenous
fertilizer to achieve higher yield in rice. Excessive nitrogenous application prolongs crop duration
decrease grain yield and increased nitrogenous loss. On the other hand over fertilization increases
maintenance and labour costs. Thus a chlorophyll meter (SPAD) can be used in our country to
gain higher yield, to avoid environmental pollution and to minimize production cost. By using
chlorophyll meter our poor farmer will be benefitted through reduction of maintenance and labour
costs as well as get higher production. Thus, it may be remarkable success to alleviate the poverty
of Bangladesh.
References :

Aft, M.A. 2005. Productivity and resource use efficiency of rice affected by crop establishment.
PhD dissertation, UPLB, Philippinesi, P-82.
Balasubramanian, V. A.C. Morales, R.T. Cruz and S. Abdulrachman, 1999. ON adaptation of
knowledge intensive nitrogen management technologies for rice systems. Nutr. Cycl.
Agroecosyst. 53 (1) : 59-69.
Hussain, F., K.F Broson Y. Sing B Sing and S peng 2000 Use of Chlorophyll meter sufficiency
indices for Nitrogen management of Irrigated rice in Asia. Agron J. 92 :875-779.
Wang D. Xu A. Zhao, J. Wang, Y. Yu, Z. 2011, Excessive nitrogen application decreases grain
yield and increases nitrogen loss in a wheat soil-system. Acta. Agric Scand 60, 681-692.

Signature of the Supervisor Signature of the researcher

Dr. Uttam Kumer Sarker Associate Md. Ariful Islam Arif
Professor Department of Agronomy Roll No : 20120153
Bangladesh Agricultural University Reg No : 443 82
Mymensingh- 2202 Session : 2015-2016
Cell : 01716809747 MS in Agronomy
E-mail: uttam@bau.edu.bd Bangladesh Agricultural University
Mymensingh- 2202
Cell : 01733582782
e-mail : arifulislam1602011 cr,gmaiLcom