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Reducing nitrogen leaching while enhancing growth, yield performance and physiological traits of rice by the application of controlled-release urea fertilizer

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Abstract

Controlled-release urea fertilizer (CRUF) consists of urea granules intercalated within the lattice of a superabsorbent composite to control urea release thereby improving nitrogen supply and minimizing environmental hazards. In this work, new formulations for controlled-release urea were prepared based on biodegradable polymers and agricultural waste. Following CRUF preparation, the release behavior of urea in aqueous medium was estimated, and the effect of medium pH on release behavior was also examined. A pot experiment was carried out on rice plants to examine the growth, yield performance and physio-biochemical traits (soluble proteins, amino acids, reducing and total free sugars, starch, proline and phenolics) of rice grains at different dosages (10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 kg ha−1) of CRUF under drought conditions (50% FC). Water stress adversely affected rice growth, membrane leakage and yield components (tiller length, filling ratio, grains mass and number per tiller). Drought exposure has influenced the physiological response of rice grains. Drought markedly increased proteins, amino acids, reducing and total free sugars and proline, but decreased starch and phenolic contents of rice grains. The application of CRUF mitigated water stress via improving the growth and yield parameters of rice plants. CRUF significantly decreased protein, amino acids, reducing sugars and proline contents but remarkably increased free sugars and starch contents of rice grains. Application of CRUF predominantly enhanced water and nutrients use efficiencies, contributing to improved metabolic machinery of droughted rice through reducing osmotic and oxidative stress levels by continued rhizophore moistening, extended urea nitrogen existence and enhanced soil characteristics.

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Funding

This work was funded by Science and Technology Development Fund (STDF) through a research project (Project ID: 5842) entitled “Superabsorbent composites application in agriculture.”

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry Department, Polymer Research Group, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt

    El-Refaie Kenawy & Ali Hosny

  2. Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt

    Khalil Saad-Allah

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  1. El-Refaie Kenawy
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  2. Ali Hosny
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Contributions

K.E., H.A. and S.K. took part in conceptualization and paper idea. S.K. and H.A. involved in experiments and methodology. S.K. participated in formal analysis and investigation, writing the original draft, writing the review and editing. K.E. helped in facilities and funding acquisition. K.E. and S.K. involved in resources. S.K. took part in journal correspondence and paper submission.

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Correspondence to Khalil Saad-Allah.

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Kenawy, ER., Hosny, A. & Saad-Allah, K. Reducing nitrogen leaching while enhancing growth, yield performance and physiological traits of rice by the application of controlled-release urea fertilizer. Paddy Water Environ 19, 173–188 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10333-020-00828-1

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