Effects of Pretransplant Basal and Split Applications of Nitrogen on the Growth and Yield of Manawthukha Rice

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of pretransplant basal (surface application, BSF, and incorporation methods, BIC) and split applications of nitrogen (N) on the growth and yield parameters of rice. Using 120 kg N ha(-1) except (N0, control), different percentages of N rate were applied at basal, tillering, and panicle initiation in five N split treatments. Growth parameters and dry matter were greater in BIC than BSF until panicle initiation stages. Among N split applications, N2 (25:50:25) using low basal surface N was optimized for maximum dry matter and yield. With large incorporated basal N, N1 (50:25:25) obtained greater dry matter and yield but did not differ from N4 (50:50:0). With omitted N at tillering, N5 (50:0:50) did not increase rice yield or dry matter by either method. This study highlighted that N split-application patterns affect the growth and yield parameters of Manawthukha rice.