Comparative Evaluation of Nano Urea and Urea Foliar Sprays on Nutrient Uptake and Soil Fertility in Fodder Maize (Zea mays L.) Production

Abstract

An investigation on “Comparative Evaluation of Nano Urea and Urea Foliar Sprays on Nutrient Uptake and Soil Fertility in Fodder Maize (Zea mays L.) Production” was conducted during kharif 2022 at ZARS, V. C. Farm, Mandya, on sandy loam soil. The experiment was laid out in RCBD with eleven treatments replicated thrice. Treatments include combinations of basal application of urea at 50, 75 and 100% recommended dose of N with varied levels of nano urea and urea spray at 20 and 40 DAS, which were compared with RDF and control (RDF without N). Among the treatments tested, 100% recommended dose of N + Urea @ 2% spray recorded significantly higher green fodder yield (427.70 q ha-1) and dry matter yield (91.64 q ha-1), nutrient uptake (153.49 kg ha-1 of N, 33.37 kg ha-1of P and 121.29 kg ha-1 of K) and was on par with 100% recommended dose of N + Nano urea @ 0.4% spray. Available N, P2O5 and K2O status in the post-harvest soil varied significantly but pH, EC and OC was not significantly influenced by varied levels of recommended dose of nitrogen with different foliar concentrations of nano urea and urea. Higher soil available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium was recorded 100% recommended dose of N + Urea @ 2% spray (213.25, 42.58, 189.06 kg ha-1, respectively) followed by 100% recommended dose of N + Nano urea @ 0.4% spray (200.70, 40.87 and 187.95 kg ha-1, respectively).