Effect of foliar application of Nano urea and hydrogel on growth and yield of summer maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

The field experiment was carried out during the summer season in two successive years of 2022 and 2023 at Krishi Vidnyan Kendra, Gandheli, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra. The experiment was laid out in Split Plot Design along with two factors viz., three Nano urea spray (60 Kg N Basal + 30 Kg N 30 DAS + 30 Kg N 45 DAS (Soil applied), 60 Kg N Basal + 30 Kg N 30 DAS(Soil applied) + (4 ml/L) spray of Nano Urea 45 DAS, 60 Kg N Basal + (4 ml/L) spray of Nano Urea 30 DAS + (4 ml/L) spray of Nano Urea 45 DAS) as main plot and (1.5 Kg soil applied Hydrogel,2.5 Kg soil applied Hydrogel,3.5 Kg soil applied Hydrogel,4.5 Kg soil applied Hydrogel) as sub-plot factor treatment along with one control treatment and their combination of 15 treatments replicated thrice. Treatments were randomly arranged in each replication, divided into forty-five plots. Results revealed that the productivity of maize was influenced by Nano urea spray and hydrogel application. On statistical analysis of both the year experiment, it was clearly evaluated that among application of 60 Kg N Basal + (4 ml/L) spray of Nano Urea 30 DAS + (4 ml/L) spray of Nano Urea 45 DAS produced higher growth and yield attributes. Further, in case of hydrogel application of4.5 Kg soil applied Hydrogel (H5) produced higher growth and yield attributes. Therefore, the 60 Kg N Basal + (4 ml/L) spray of Nano Urea 30 DAS + (4 ml/L) spray of Nano Urea 45 DAS with foliar application of application of 4.5 Kg soil applied Hydrogel may be adopted by corn growers to harness the maize production and profitability under the ecological parameters of Maharashtra.