Evaluation of NUE and Rice (<i>Oryza sativa </i>L.) Performance Through Application of Urea Stable Fertilizer in Ethiopia

An experiment based on randomized complete block design was conducted at Fogera and Libokemkem districts from 2017-2019 growing season. Nitrogen is the most yield liming nutrient that can be highly soluble and lost through leaching, volatilization and denitrification. The experiment was conducted to determine the effects of urea stable and convectional urea on rice performance and productivity. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments were different rate of urea stable and convectional urea applied at planting and in split: (Control, 69 kg N ha<sup>-1</sup> from urea stable applied once at planting, 69 kg N ha<sup>-1</sup> from urea stable in split application, 34.5 kg N ha<sup>-1</sup> from urea stable in split application and 34.5 kg N ha<sup>-1</sup> from urea stable in once applied, 103.5 kg N ha<sup>-1</sup> from urea stable applied once at planting, 103.5 kg N ha<sup>-1</sup> from urea in split application, 69 kg N ha<sup>-1</sup> from conventional urea in split application, 103.5 kg N ha<sup>-1</sup> from conventional urea in split application). The applications of urea stable and conventional urea were significantly improved growth yield and yield components of rice as compared to control. Mean grain yield and biomass yield of rice was significantly affected by nitrogen rate and increased with increasing of nitrogen rate applied from urea stable and conventional urea. Moreover, the highest grain and biomass yield 4.8 t and 10.6 t was recorded from application of the recommended N in urea stable form once at planting in fogera district. Whereas the minimum grain (1.9 t/ha) and biomass yield (4.7 t/ha) was recorded from the negative control. At Libokemkem district the highest grain and biomass yield 3.9 tones and 9.3 t/ha was recorded respectively. But statistically similar from application of 103.5 kg N ha<sup>-1</sup> applied in split in the form of conventional urea (+ve control). Therefore, there was no evidence in our research that supports the advantage of urea stable over the conventional urea. Hence it is concluded that the application N fertilizers sources from both of urea and urea-stable are equal result obtained in improving of rice productivity and nitrogen use efficiency.