Background: Optimising nutrient management strategies is crucial to enhance the growth, yield and nutritional quality of fodder maize, while minimizing environmental impacts and reducing input cost. This study was conducted at the Andro Research Station, CAU Imphal, during the kharif seasons of 2022 and 2023, to evaluate the performance of nano urea under various nitrogen management regimes.
Methods: The experiment was laid out in RCBD with 10 treatments replicated thrice. Treatments included one recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF), six different nitrogen substitution levels with nano-urea (2-6 mL L-¹), two foliar urea sprays (2%), and one control (without nitrogen).
Results: The study revealed that by applying 75% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through urea, along with a foliar spray of nano-urea @ 6 mL L-¹, achieved comparable productivity to the 100% RDF. This treatment also gave the highest green fodder yield, dry matter yield, and crude protein, along with maximum net return (₹64,208 ha-¹) and B:C ratio (2.57). While the RDF also performed well, nano-urea treatments proved to be more economical and sustainable by reducing chemical nitrogen input by 25% without incurring a yield penalty. Higher levels of organic carbon and available nitrogen in post-harvest soil analysis were found under nano-urea treatments as compared to the control.
Conclusion: It was concluded that the foliar spray of nano-urea @ 6 mL L-¹, along with 75% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN), is a viable option to enhance the productivity, profitability, and nutrient use efficiency in fodder maize under acidic subtropical conditions in Imphal.
fodder maize, nano-urea, crude protein, foliar spray, soil fertility
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