EFFECT OF ENCAPSULATED CALCIUM CARBIDE ON GROWTH, YIELD AND N USE EFFICIENCY OF RICE (ORYZA SATIVA L.)

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential of encapsulated CaC2 on plant growth and yield of rice. Application of encapsulated CaC2 in combination with recommended dose of N fertilizer significantly increased number of tillers, straw and paddy yield compared to N fertilizer application alone. Maximum number of tillers m -2 and paddy yield was observed where encapsulated CaC2 @ 60 kg ha -1 was applied with N fertilizer @ 60 kg ha -1 applied two weeks after transplanting. Results revealed that half of the recommended dose of N produced maximum paddy yield just with addition of CaC2 @ 60 kg ha -1 than that of full dose of N fertilizer. Moreover, application of encapsulated CaC2 resulted in higher N-use efficiency by rice crop than that observed with N fertilizer alone. Maximum agronomic, apparent and physiological efficiencies were observed where CaC2 plus N fertilizer (each applied @ 60 kg ha -1 ) was applied. These findings indicated that CaC2 affects plant