Synopsis of the Proposed Research Project for National Science and Technology Fellowship

2020-2021

 Research Title:
In English: Development of Chlorophyll Meter Based Nitrogen Management in T. aman
Rice

In Bangla:
Introduction: Nitrogen is the most deficient nutrient element 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 efliciency 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).
 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.
 Methodology:
1 Experimental Site: The experiment will be conducted in the Agronomy Field
Laboratory. Dept of Agronomy, Bangladesh Agricultural University,
Mymensingh- 2202.
2 Treatment of experiment:
Nitrogen management
 i. 70 kg N ha-I in two equal splits at 10 DAT and early tillering. ii.
80 kg N ha-I in two equal splits at 10 DAT and early tillering. iii.
90 kg N ha-I in two equal splits at 10 DAT and early tillering. iv.
Extra N applied based on SPAD value .
Variety
BRRI dhan 87

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 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.

 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 I .5 months
2. Seed sowing and procurement 1 months
3. Other management practices and 4 months
harvesting
4. Data collection 2 months
5. Statistical analysis of data 1.5 months
6. Result preparation and thesis writing 2 months
Total 12 months
 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 :
Ali, 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 Md. Ariful Islam Arif
Associate Professor Roll No : 20120153
Department of Agronomy Reg No : 44382
Bangladesh Agricultural University Session : 2015-2016
Mymensingh- 2202