Optimum Rate and Deep Placement of Nitrogen Fertilizer Improves Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Tomato Yield in Nepal

In Nepal, blanket fertilizer recommendations without considering diverse soil types, nutrient status, climate and crop management practices along with imbalanced fertilization by farmers, mainly “urea fertilizer,” have resulted in reduced nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) productivity tomato production. Optimizing the rate of (N) fertilizer, application time improved methods could increase yields NUE reduce environmental costs. This study was conducted to identify optimum N method for increased yield NUE. Multilocation trials (n = 28) a randomized complete block design nine treatments across five districts included omission N, P K (N0, P0, K0), variable rates 100, 150, 200 250 kg ha−1 (N-100, N-150, N-200 N-250), urea briquettes (UB) deep placement (UBN-150) control (CK). input UB 25% from recommended its expected higher Yield responses an NPK plot revealed as most limiting plant nutrient. Applications at N-100, N-250 27%, 35%, 43% respectively, over N0. Tomato responded quadratically added fertilizers ranging 150 districts. UBN-150 significantly 12% N-150 produced similar (the rate). The highest partial factor (PFPN) observed N-100 agronomic (AEN) N-200. Deep at-150 PFPN 8% 21% AEN 27% compared N-200, respectively. These results positive implications developing efficient strategies impacts Nepal.