Influence of Nano Urea on Growth, Yield and Nutrient use efficiency of Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajana L.) of Karnataka, India

Author: Amruta Chandrashekhar Mirji, C. Seenappa, T.G. Amrutha, H. Matheekur Rehaman, V. Venkata Chalapathy and H.D. Shilpa

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Abstract

Nano urea particles has an average physical size of 20 -50 nm and contains 4 % nitrogen by weight in its nano form. Further, application of nano urea (liquid) improves yield, biomass, soil health and nutritional quality of the produce due to higher absorption rate, utilization efficacy and minimum losses. The field experiment was conducted at ZARS, GKVK, Bangalore, Karnataka, India during Kharif 2021 on influence of nano urea on growth, yield and quality of pigeonpea. Results indicated that application of RDF (Nano Urea) + foliar application of ZnSO4 @ 0.5 % + FeSO4 @ 0.5 % resulted significantly higher number of pods plant-1 (116.2), pod yield (52.3 g plant-1), pod bearing length plant-1 (64.7 cm) seed yield (1179 kg ha-1) and stalk yield (4568 kg ha-1) and higher uptake of nutrients (kg ha-1) i.e., nitrogen (111.5), phosphorus (16.9) and potassium (82.3)hence higher nutrient use efficiency (kg grains kg-1 nutrient applied) i.e., nitrogen (93.0), phosphorus (23.58) and potassium use efficiency (47.16) and across the different phenophases of crop, from 120 DAS till harvest higher values of absolute growth rate(1.97g plant-1day-1), crop growth rate (14.57 g m-2 day-1)and relative growth rate (0.012 g g-1 day-1) were observed.

Keywords

Yield, stalk nitrogen phosphorus and potassium

Conclusion

Based on the results obtained from the present investigation, the following practices are beneficial in pigeonpea cultivation. Application of 100 per cent of RDPK and 50 per cent of RDN through normal urea as basal dose and foliar application of nano urea (3 ml l-1) in three sprays at 60, 90 and 120 DAS has improved the crop growth, yield, quality and B: C ratio in pigeonpea compared to only RDF through normal urea. Foliar application of water-soluble zinc and iron sulphate @ 5 per cent each, at flowering and pod development stages along with nano urea and RDF has produced higher growth, yield and improved quality of pigeonpea compared to the soil application of zinc and ferrous sulphate with nano urea. Foliar application of nano urea and water-soluble zinc and iron sulphate along with RDF in pigeonpea recorded 34.8 per cent higher yield compared to only RDF through normal urea. Application of RDF along with foliar application of nano urea and soil application of zinc and ferrous sulphate is more economical and recorded higher net returns (Rs. 39346 ha-1) and B: C ratio (2.02) compared to only RDF.

References

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How to cite this article

Amruta Chandrashekhar Mirji, C. Seenappa, T.G. Amrutha, H. Matheekur Rehaman, V. Venkata Chalapathy and H.D. Shilpa (2023). Influence of Nano Urea on Growth, Yield and Nutrient use efficiency of Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajana L.) of Karnataka, India. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(9): 403-409.