Effect of foliar and band application of urea in different formulation on growth and yield of maize

Abstract

The field investigation entitled ‘“Effect of foliar application of nano-urea on yield and quality of maize” was carried out at Regional Research Station, Karnal of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, during kharif 2022. Nine treatments including control (No RDN) (0:60:60 – N:P:K kg/ha),100% RDN through urea (150:60:60 – N:P:K kg/ ha), 100% RDN (three foliar spray of nano-urea at 15, 30 and 45 DAS), 100% RDN (50% as basal by urea + one foliar spray of nano-urea at 45 DAS), 100% RDN (50% as basal by urea + two foliar sprays of nano-urea at 30 and 45 DAS), 75% RDN (50% as basal by urea + one foliar spray of nano-urea at 45 DAS), 75% RDN (50% as basal by urea + two foliar sprays of nano-urea at 30 and 45 DAS), 50% RDN (50% as basal by urea + one foliar spray of nano-urea at 45 DAS) and 50% RDN (50% as basal by urea + two foliar sprays of nano-urea at 30 and 45 DAS) were laid out in randomized block design in three replicates. Application of nitrogen through different sources influenced the growth parameters and yield of maize crop. The plant height was significantly higher with 100% RDN (50% as basal by urea + two foliar sprays of nano-urea at 30 and 45 DAS) (43.6 cm) at 20 DAS, while with 100% RDN through urea (91.3 cm, 191.5 cm and 219.0 cm, respectively) at 40 DAS, 60 DAS and at maturity which was statistically at par with treatments 100% RDN (50% as basal by urea + one foliar spray of nano-urea at 45 DAS), 75% RDN (50% as basal by urea + two foliar sprays of nano-urea at 30 and 45 DAS) and 100% RDN through urea at 20 DAS & 100% RDN (50% as basal by urea + two foliar sprays of nano-urea at 30 and 45 DAS) and 75% RDN (50% as basal by urea + two foliar sprays of nano-urea at 30 and 45 DAS) at 40 DAS & 100% RDN (50% as basal by urea + two foliar sprays of nano-urea at 30 and 45 DAS), 75% RDN (50% as basal by urea + two foliar sprays of nano-urea at 30 and 45 DAS), 100% RDN (50% as basal by urea + one foliar spray of nano-urea at 45 DAS) and 75% RDN (50% as basal by urea + one foliar spray of nano-urea at 45 DAS) at 60 DAS and at maturity. Maximum dry matter accumulation per plant (71.1 g/m2 ) was recorded with 100% RDN (50% as basal by urea + two foliar sprays of nano-urea at 30 and 45 DAS) at 20 DAS, while with 100% RDN through urea (203.9 g/m2 , 1000.3 g/m2 and 1256.3 g/m2 , respectively) at 40 DAS, 60 DAS and at maturity which was significantly higher than all others treatments except 100% RDN (50% as basal by urea + one foliar spray of nano-urea at 45 DAS), 75% RDN (50% as basal by urea + two foliar sprays of nano-urea at 30 and 45 DAS) and 75% RDN (50% as basal by urea + one foliar spray of nano-urea at 45 DAS) at 20 DAS & 100% RDN (50% as basal by urea + two foliar sprays of nano-urea at 30 and 45 DAS) and 75% RDN (50% as basal by urea + two foliar sprays of nano-urea at 30 and 45 DAS) at 40 DAS & 100% RDN (50% as basal by urea + two foliar sprays of nano-urea at 30 and 45 DAS) and 100% RDN (50% as basal by urea + one foliar spray of nano-urea at 45 DAS) at 60 DAS & 100% RDN (50% as basal by urea + two foliar sprays of nano-urea at 30 and 45 DAS) at maturity. Grain yield (76.6 q/ha), stover yield (122.0 q/ ha) and biological yield (198.5 q/ha) were recorded highest with 100% RDN through urea which was statistically at par with 100% RDN (50% as basal by urea + two foliar sprays of nano-urea at 30 and 45 DAS).