Research Projects

Rationale: Nitrogen (N) fertilizers are essential for productivity, but significant losses occur due to leaching, contributing to environmental issues. Smart-Release Fertilizers (SRFs) synchronize nutrient release with uptake, reducing inefficiencies. Unlike uncoated urea, which loses up to 50% of its N quickly, SRFs employ coatings like polylactic acid (PLA) to regulate nutrient release over extended periods. Innovations such as blending PLA with nano-zeolite and nano-clay offer further optimization, creating a permeable membrane that enhances controlled nutrient delivery. This approach providing an opportunity to advance fertilizer efficiency. Agronomic practices like utilizing N from rice stubble for relay crops such as mustard and localized phosphorus (P) management to improve root architecture can complement SRFs, offering holistic strategies to reduce losses while enhancing crop productivity. Objectives: • To develop and optimize smart-release N fertilizers using PLA permeable membrane blended with nano-zeolite and nano-clay • To compare N leaching in rice-mustard cropping using SRF and other N management • To examine rhizosphere-based P management for improved root development and reduced nitrate leaching Hypothesis: • Coating urea with PLA blended with nano-zeolite and nano-clay will create a permeable membrane that create slow release, synchronizing it with plant uptake and reducing nitrate leaching. • N released from rice stubble post-harvest can be effectively absorbed by relay crops like mustard, minimizing N losses. • Localized P management can improve root architecture, enhancing nutrient acquisition and further mitigating nitrate leaching in cropping systems. Methodology: 1. Involves the development and optimization of SRFs. Urea will be coated with PLA blended with nano-zeolite and nano-clay, creating a permeable membrane to control N release. The SRFs' release rates will be evaluated using soil column leaching models, optimizing the blend for effective synchronization of N release with plant uptake. 2. Experiment will conduct on rice-mustard cultivation, where raised-bed plot trials will compare SRF with traditional fertilizers and biological N management such as Azolla, Azospirillum and Azotobacter. it aims to assess nitrate leaching, N-use efficiency and crop yields. Relay crop (mustard) will be tested the ability to absorb residual N from rice stubble post-harvest. 3. Its investigates the impact of localized P management. By applying P micro-dosing through seedling root dip in SSP slurry and using P-solubilizing bacteria, it will improve in root architecture, nutrient acquisition and the reduction of nitrate leaching. Finally, will evaluate the correlation Significance: Study will understand nutrient dynamics, focusing on N and P interactions in soil-plant systems. It aims to improve N release control, enhancing soil health and crop productivity. Findings will promote sustainable, eco-friendly and food security challenges.