Evaluating the effects of nitrogen application on the agricultural performance of improved rice varieties in Marin, Sindhuli, Nepal

This study focuses the agronomic performance of two rice varieties, Ram Dhan and Sabitri Dhan, under varying nitrogen levels in central inner terai Sindhuli, Nepal, conducted from June to October 2022. The primary motivation is to understand the nuanced impacts of nitrogen application on key physiological traits and yield components without assuming statistically significant differences. The central problem addressed is to explore how different nitrogen levels interact with these traits and influence overall crop productivity. Our study hypothesizes that nitrogen application may affect agronomic parameters such as flag leaf characteristics, culm dimensions, tiller number, flowering dynamics, panicle morphology, and grain yield. The experiment utilized a factorial randomized block design with six treatments and four replications, applying nitrogen levels (100 kg/ha, 120 kg/ha, 140 kg/ha) at split doses during critical growth stages. Data collection included meticulous measurement of these traits following standard agronomic protocols. Key findings revealed that while Sabitri Dhan tended to show higher tiller numbers and panicle traits compared to Ram Dhan, Ram Dhan exhibited marginally better grain yield and harvest index. These results suggest that despite the absence of statistically significant differences, there are practical implications for rice cultivation practices in similar agro-ecological contexts. The study underscores the importance of considering non-significant results in agricultural research to refine nutrient management strategies and enhance crop productivity sustainably. Future research could further explore the nuanced interactions between nitrogen levels and rice varieties to optimize agronomic practices tailored to local conditions and improve yield stability and resilience in rice cultivation.