0023-6152

AA00697606

1955672

This study was conducted to investigate the efficiency of pouring nitrogen (N) fertilizer application (PA) method at panicle formation stage and its effects on growth, yield of rice and labor cost of fertilization in large–scale paddy field in Japan. Compared with granular N fertilizer application (GA) method, PA method was characterized by significantly lower yield variation and less labor cost for fertilizer application with in a field. Higher SPAD value and leaf N content were responsible for the higher grain yield under PA method. The yield variation within the same field was significant for GA method and not significant for PA method suggested that the uniformity and accuracy of N distribution with PA method is higher than GA method. Further, PA method reduced labor cost of about 80% than GA method for N fertilizer application at panicle formation stage, suggesting major advantage in PA method for reducing of cost of production. Overall, this quantitative evaluation of two fertilization application methods as N fertilizer application at panicle formation stage for rice highlights that the PA method has great potential of saving labor cost and reduce yield variation in large–scale paddy field.