Nutri Gard Nano Biopolymer fertilizer as a tool to improve nutrient use efficiency in Padi Wai (Sarawak Specialty Rice)

Abstract

Prolonged dependence on conventional compound fertilizers often results in low nutrient use efficiency (NUE) and increased environmental degradation due to nutrient losses through leaching and volatilization. This study evaluated the growth performance, nutrient use efficiency, and yield response of the Sarawak specialty rice variety Padi wai under Nutri Gard fertilizer compared with standard fertilization. The experiment was conducted for 169 days under nursery-scale conditions at Universiti Putra Malaysia Sarawak using a randomized complete block design with five treatments and three replications: soil only (S), standard fertilizer (SF), Nutri Gard at the recommended rate (NG1, 100%), Nutri Gard at a 30% reduced rate (NG2, 70%), and Nutri Gard with elevated potassium (NG3). Plant height was greatest under NG2 (192.3 cm) and NG3 (187.4 cm), exceeding SF (182.1 cm) and NG1 (183.7 cm). Panicle weight improved substantially with Nutri Gard, reaching 421 g (NG1), 405 g (NG2), and 470 g (NG3), compared with 297 g under SF. Grain weight followed a similar pattern, with NG2 producing the highest value (347 g), followed by NG1 (312 g) and NG3 (311 g), all surpassing SF (253 g). NG3 generated the highest grain number (23,446 grains), while SF recorded the lowest (16,628 grains). Nutrient use efficiencies were markedly enhanced by Nutri Gard. NG2 achieved the highest N, P, and K efficiencies (16%, 28%, and 68%, respectively), compared with SF (4%, 13%, and 24%). Total soil N remained higher in NG1 (0.42%), NG2 (0.40%), and NG3 (0.34%) than in SF (0.21%). Available P was 603 ppm (NG1), 624 ppm (NG2), and 521 ppm (NG3), compared with 417 ppm in SF. Overall, the nano-biopolymer-based Nutri Gard fertilizer significantly enhanced nutrient retention, nutrient use efficiency, and paddy growth performance, even at reduced application rates, demonstrating its potential as a sustainable alternative to conventional NPK fertilization. © 2025 The Author(s)