EFFECT OF UREA AMENDED WITH NEEM TRITERPENES JELLY, NITROGEN RATES AND TIME OF APPLICATION ON WINTER RICE (ORYZA-SATIVA)

In a 2-year experiment in winter rice (Oryza sativa L.) urea coated wi th neem triterpenes significantly outyielded the ordinary urea by 5.6% . Response to nitrogen was recorded up to 120 kg N/ha. Application of N in 2 splits (1/2 as basal + 1/2 at active tillering stage) was found as effective as 3 splits (1/3 as basal + 1/3 at active tillering + 1/ 3 at panicle-initiation stage) in increasing rice yield. Growth attrib utes in terms of phytomass, root mass, leaf-area index, tiller-panicle conversion index and yield-contributing characters increased signific antly up to 120 kg N/ha, resulting in more grain yield.