Effectiveness of humic acid, poultry manure and nano urea on the productivity of transplanted basmati rice (Oryza sativa)

The present study was conducted during the autumn (Kharif) season from June to October 2024 to evaluate the effects of humic acid derived from coal, plant material and vermicompost, in combination with poultry manure and nano urea, on the growth and yield of transplanted basmati rice. The experiment followed a random block design comprising 10 treatments, each replicated three times. The treatments included different types and amounts of humic acid, nano-urea and poultry manure, applied at levels of 0, 3 and 6 T/ha. The results demonstrated significant improvements in plant growth parameters, including plant height, number of tillers, flag leaf length, leaf area and chlorophyll index. The treatment that used humic acid from vermicompost along with poultry manure at 6 t ha⁻¹ and nano urea resulted in the best measurements for plant height (114.50 cm), number of tillers (18.20) and leaf area (98.66 cm²). Yield-related factors, such as the number of panicles, their length, weight and grain filling, also improved significantly. The longest panicles measured 29.24 cm and the heaviest weighed 2.62 g, both achieved with the same treatment. The combination of humic acids and poultry manure significantly increased the availability of nutrients and plant hormones, enabling the plants to grow more robustly and produce greater yields. Additionally, applying nano urea to the leaves provided a steady supply of nitrogen during critical growth periods, which helped boost productivity. These findings highlight the synergistic potential of integrating organic amendments with nano fertilizers to improve rice cultivation under subtropical climatic conditions.