Band placement of urea solution: a new technique to increase urea-N efficiency in transplanted rice (Oryza sativa)

Alternative strategies studied for N fertiliser management to increase the N-use efficiency in lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.) were studied in 1993-94. the field experiment was conducted to evaluate the band placement of urea solution in comparison with the application of prilled urea (PU) and neem-c oated urea (NCU) and the point placement of urea supergranules (USG). Grain yield and N-use efficiency were higher for band placement of urea solution at both 50 and 100 kg N/ha levels compared with the conventional split app lication of PU at 100 kg N/ha. A total N-15 recovery of 58.66% and 51.65% w as recorded for the treatment with band placement of urea solution at 50 an d 100 kg N/ha level respectively compared with 47.78% for NCU and 28.53% fo r conventional split application as PU.