Effect of foliar application of nano-urea on growth, yield attributes, yield and quality of Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) under South Gujarat condition

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during the kharif season of 2024 at Plot Number 11 of the College Farm, Navsari Agricultural University, Campus Bharuch, to assess the impact of foliar application of nano-urea on the growth, yield attributes, yield and quality of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) under South Gujarat conditions. The study followed a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with eight treatment combinations and three replications. Among the treatments, the application of 75% Recommended Dose of Nitrogen (RDN) through urea combined with two foliar sprays of nano urea at 4 ml L-1 at 25 and 45 days after sowing (DAS), designated as (T3), demonstrated significantly superior performance. This treatment recorded the highest values for key growth parameters such as plant height (206.7 cm) and number of green leaves per plant at harvest (10.69), as well as yield and yield attributes including effective tillers per meter row length (32.24), ear head weight (48.84 g), ear head length (29.01 cm), grain yield (3542 kg ha-1) and straw yield (8350 kg ha-1). In terms of quality, (T3) also resulted in the highest crude protein content (11.68%), crude protein yield (413.7 kg ha-1) and chlorophyll content (57.28 SPAD units). Although test weight was not significantly affected by the nano urea treatments, the highest numerical value (9.02 g) was observed under the (T3) treatment.