Effect of nano-urea application on yield, nutrient uptake and quality of kharif maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

An experiment on “Effect of nano-urea application on yield, nutrient uptake and quality of kharif Maize (Zea mays L.)” was conducted during kharif 2023 at Post Graduate Research Farm, Agronomy Section, College of Agriculture, Dhule (Maharashtra). Seed of maize hybrid variety NK 6540 was used. The crop was sown at spacing 75 cm × 20 cm on 12 July 2023. The gross and net plot sizes were 7.00 m x 6.00 m 6.20 m x 4.50 m, respectively. The experiment had three replications with eleven treatments was set up in a randomized block design. The grain (66.74 q ha-1) and stover yield (86.66 q ha-1) were significantly more in application of 100% N through urea (T3) which was statistically at par with application of 75% N through urea+ 25% N through three foliar sprays of nano urea at 20, 40 and 60 DAS (T5) and application of 75% N through urea + 25% N through two foliar sprays of nano urea at 20 and 40 DAS (T4).The values of N, P and K uptake in grain (105.64 kg ha-1, 23.36 kg ha-1, 54.07 kg ha-1, respectively) and stover (53.18 kg ha-1, 11.86 kg ha-1, 70.29 kg ha-1, respectively) is higher in application of 100% N through urea (T3) which was statistically at par with application of 75% N through urea+ 25% N through three foliar sprays of nano urea at 20, 40 and 60 DAS (T5) and application of 75% N through urea + 25% N through two foliar sprays of nano urea at 20 and 40 DAS (T4). Among the different nutrient management treatments application of 100% N through urea with 60 kg ha -1 P2O5 and 40 kg ha-1 K2O or 75% N through urea+ 25% N through three foliar sprays of nano urea at 20, 40 and 60 DAS 60 kg ha -1 P2O5 and 40 kg ha-1 K2O or 75% N through urea + 25% N through two foliar sprays of nano urea at 20 and 40 DAS 60 kg ha -1 P2O5 and 40 kg ha-1 K2O to maize crop exhibited higher grain yield (q ha-1), stover yield (q ha-1), nutrient uptake(kg ha-1) than rest of treatments.