Considering the shortage of urea in the State, scientists of Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) have issued an advisory for farmers.
Director Research Dr Abdul Wadud said that the nitrogenous stripe urea was used by farmers extensively for the protection of standing crops. “For the growth of plants, it is sprayed two to three times on the leaves of the standing crop. Due to shortage of urea in crops, there is a possibility of crop damage and loss of production. In such a situation, spraying urea solution can be a better option. Crop damage can be prevented by using small amounts of urea,” he added.
BAU Chief Soil Scientist Dr BK Aggarwal said that the paddy and maize crop planted in the field now needs top dressing of urea.
“The amount of 40, 80 and 120 kg per hectare is recommended for cultivation of paddy in medium and low land respectively. In corn, a quantity of 120 kg per hectare is recommended. Half the recommended quantity of nitrogen is used at the time of sowing of paddy or corn. Half the amount of the remaining nectar is used in two installments at the time of release of Kalla and Balia or Dhanbal,” he added.
In view of the scarcity of nitrogenous urea fertilizer in the market, Aggarwal advised farmers to spray two per cent urea solution on standing crop of paddy or corn.
“With this technique, it is possible to protect crops using small amounts of urea. Urea solution can be sprayed two to three times according to the need of the crop. For an acre field, 2 kg of urea solution can be prepared by dissolving five kg of urea in 250 liters of water. Spraying of urea is not required in pulses,” he added.
Another Soil Scientist, Dr Arvind Kumar said that ophthalmine contributes to the vegetative growth of plants, gives green color of leaves and increases the amount of protein in grains of cereal crops.
In the standing crop, the color of the plants becomes light green, the growth is less than normal and the number of buds decreases due to lack of eye. The leaves of plants become yellow or light green in color. In the grain crops like corn, paddy and others.
The lower leaves of the plant first start drying and gradually the top leaves also dry up. The color of the leaves is white and the leaves sometimes burn.
White spots also occur in between the green leaves. Fruits fall from trees before ripening. In such a situation, foliar spray has been found beneficial for the
crop by making two per cent solution of urea.