Use of 'Economy-urea spray technique'( Cost effective urea spray technique) on leaves of paddy plant has been proved useful and high-yielding as an appropriate technology by the researchers of Faculty of Agronomy and Agriculture Extension of Rajshahi University. The 'Economy-Urea spray technique was invented by agriculturist Arif Hossain Khan, Joint-Director of BADC Fertiliser Management department. The research has revealed in the Boro cultivation since 2017 that even after applying 35 to 25 percent less urea through spraying on leaves of paddy plants, there was an increase of 6 to 11 percent of production. Researchers have also noticed an increase of protein content in rice through using the technique.
Inventor of the 'Economy-Urea spray technique' agriculturist Arif Khan informed, the success in production of paddy through using spray technique of urea might be regarded as a milestone in rice producing country of the world because no such successful method of paddy cultivation by using urea on paddy leaves through spraying method has so far been invented in any country of the world. In this connection, he mentioned, such a successful new technique of paddy production might be model in worldwide rice production and Bangladesh might be a pioneer in this field. He sought government patronisation to spread the urea saving technique home and abroad.
Arif Khan said, after the invention of the technique in 2012, it was applied on paddy plants on 6, 200 bighas of land through 275 farmers and officials and the technique proved successful at the field level. The technique would save some 500,000 metric tonnes of urea annually in case of paddy production only and thus the government would save Taka 16,500 million while there would be an increase of 1500,ooo metric tonnes of rice annually whose market value is Taka 37,500 million.
Serajum Monira, an MS student of Rajshahi University who is conducting research under the supervision of Professor Dr. Aminul Haque has found that spraying nitrogen ( urea) through leaves of paddy plant might be an effective and alternative method of improved rice production. She conducted the research on BRRI-28 rice during the current boro season.
It the new technique could be reached to the farmers, they would be able to tackle crisis like drought, water logging and shortages of urea paddy by using spray method of urea successfully and would be able to save their crop by using a little amount of urea through spraying method, informed Professor Dr. Aminul Haque.
Arif Khan, Joint Director of BADC fertiliser department who is the inventor of the technique informed, in case spreading of urea on soil, the plant can absorb only 30 to 35 percent of the fertiliser through root whereas more than 90 percent of urea can be absorbed by plant when it is sprayed on leaves. he further said, the technique will prove also successful during the Aman paddy season when due to want of rainfall farmers failed to apply urea in their fields, they would easily apply those through spraying method on leaves of the plant and thus need of nitrogen in the tree will be covered. In this connection, he further said, the newly invented technique will require 40 to 50 percent less urea fertliser and thus the environment, soil and water will remain more safe and pure.