Effect of foliar application of major plant nutrients on growth of rabi sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.)

Abstract

A field experiment entitled “Effect of foliar application of major plant nutrients on growth of rabi sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.)” was conducted during the rabi season of 2023-24 at the experimental farm of Sorghum Research Station, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani, with a view to find out the effect of foliar application of major plant nutrients on growth and yield of rabi sorghum and workout the economics of different treatments. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with seven treatments in three replications each viz., T1: RDF (40:20:20 NPK kg ha-1), T2: RDF + Nano urea @ 4 ml liter-1 of water spray at panicle initiation stage, T3: RDF + 2% spray of DAP at panicle initiation stage, T4: RDF + 2% spray of KCL at panicle initiation stage, T5:RDF + spray of nano urea @ 4 ml liter-1 of water + 2% spray of DAP at panicle initiation stage, T6: RDF + spray of nano urea @ 4 ml liter-1 of water + 2% spray of KCL at panicle initiation stage and T7: Control. The result of experiment revealed that soil application of 40:20:20 NPK kg ha-1 (RDF) + spray of nano urea @ 4 ml liter-1 of water + 2% spray of DAP at panicle initiation stage (T5) recorded significantly higher plant height, number of leaves, leaf area plant-1, dry matter accumulation plant-1 and SPAD value, it was comparable with RDF + spray of nano urea @ 4 ml liter-1 of water at panicle initiation stage + 2% spray of KCL at panicle initiation stage (T6), RDF + 2% spray of DAP at panicle initiation stage (T3) and RDF + 2% spray of KCL at panicle initiation stage (T4). Days to 50% flowering and stem girth of rabi sorghum were not influenced significantly due to foliar application of nutrients which might be due to genetical characteristic of the variety.