Effect of nano fertilizer on growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season (Nov-May) of 2022-23 at the Student's Instruction Farm, CSAUAT, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, to assess the effect of nano fertilizers on performance of wheat. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design with 14 treatments and replicated thrice, using. The results revealed that the application of 75% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) + PK + 4 ml nano urea lit-1 of water spray at 40 and 60 days after sowing (DAS) (T14) significantly enhanced growth and yield parameters, including plant height (102.8 cm), dry matter accumulation (920.8 g/ m2), and yield attributes like effective tillers (333.87 /m2), spike length (9.53 cm), spike weight (3.22 g), grains per spike (59.0), grain weight per spike (2.35 g), and test weight (40.2 g). This treatment was comparable to 100% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) (T2) with 120:60:40 kg NPK /ha, which also showed positive effects. In terms of yield, the highest grain yield (5.86 t/ha), straw yield (8.19 t/ha), and biological yield (14.1 t/ha) were observed in T14, followed by T2. The study concluded that nano fertilizers, particularly the combination of 75% RDN with nano urea improved wheat yield, making it a viable alternative to conventional fertilizers.