Nitrogen application boosts rice quality and cooking experience, study finds.
Nitrogen application in mid-season indica rice helps improve both yield and quality. By studying grain-filling characteristics, researchers found that nitrogen prolongs the duration of grain filling and increases grain weight. This leads to better milling quality, appearance, and cooking quality. Specifically, higher grain-filling rates are linked to lower chalkiness and higher amylose content. Varieties with lower amylose content showed better cooking and eating quality due to their superior grain-filling rates. Overall, proper nitrogen application can enhance the overall quality of mid-season indica rice.