EFFECT OF NANO-UREA ON PRODUCTIVITY OF WHEAT (Triticum aestivum L.)
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Date
2023
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Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi
Abstract
Wheat is eaten by 2.5 billion people in 89 countries. It supersedes Maize or Rice
as a source of protein in low and middle income nations and is second only to rice as a
source of calories. (CIMMYT, 2019). In the marketing year of 2019-2020, the global
production volume of wheat amounted to over 765 million metric tons. India ranks 2nd in
wheat production after China and produced 108.75 million tonnes of wheat (PIB,2020-
21). Uttar Pradesh ranks 1st in wheat production followed by Madhya Pradesh and
Punjab and Punjab ranks 1st in productivity. Jharkhand has 2.0 lakh hectare under wheat
cultivation with the production of 3.98 lakh ton and productivity of 1.8 ton per hectare
(Govt of Jharkhand Annual Report, 2016-17). Recently the Nano-fertilizers are getting
importance in sustainable agriculture in increasing crop production, enhancing nutrient
use efficiency and reduction in wastage of chemical fertilizers. Nano-fertilizers provide
more surface area for different metabolic reactions in the plant system which increase
rate of photosynthesis and produce more dry-matter and yield of the crop. Nano
fertilizers are more reactive and can penetrate through cuticle, ensuring controlled
release and targeted delivery.
A field experiment entitled “Effect of Nano-Urea on Productivity of Wheat
(Triticum aestivum L.)” was conducted during rabi 2021-22 at Agricultural Research
Farm of Department of Agronomy, Birsa Agricultural University Kanke, Ranchi with the
main emphasis on the study of the effect of Nano-Urea on growth, yield attributes, yield,
nutrient uptake and economics of wheat crop. The experiment was laid out in
Randomized Block Design (RBD) replicated thrice with thirteen treatments viz. T1-100%
RDF* (1/3 N at basal , 1/3 at CRI, 1/3 at maximum tillering )+ Water spray at 70 DAS
and 90 DAS,T2-100%RDF (1/3 N at basal , 1/3 at CRI, 1/3 at maximum tillering )+ one
spray of nano urea at 70 DAS,T3-100% RDF (1/3 N at basal , 1/3 at CRI, 1/3 at
maximum tillering ) + two spray of nano urea at 70 DAS and 90 DAS,T4-100% RDF
(1/3 N at basal , 1/3 at CRI, 1/3 at maximum tillering ) + two spray of urea (2%) at 70
DAS and 90 DAS,T5-75%RDF** (1/3 N at basal , 1/3 at CRI, 1/3 at maximum tillering
), + water spray at 70 DAS and 90 DAS,T6-75% RDF (1/3 N at basal , 1/3 at CRI, 1/3 at
maximum tillering ) + one spray of nano-urea at 70 DAS,T7-75%RDF (1/3 N at basal ,
1/3 at CRI, 1/3 at maximum tillering ), + two spray of nano urea at 70 DAS and 90
DAS,T8-75% RDF (1/3 N at basal , 1/3 at CRI, 1/3 at maximum tillering ) + two spray
of urea (2%) at 70 DAS and 90 DAS,T9-50% RDF*** (1/3 N at basal , 1/3 at CRI, 1/3 at
maximum tillering ) + two water spray at 70 DAS and 90 DAS,T10- 50% RDF (1/3 N at
basal , 1/3 at CRI, 1/3 at maximum tillering) + one spray of nano urea at 70 DAS,T11-
50%RDF (1/3 N at basal , 1/3 at CRI, 1/3 at maximum tillering ) + Two spray of nano
urea at 70 DAS and 90 DAS,T12-50%RDF (1/3 N at basal , 1/3 at CRI, 1/3 at maximum
tillering ) + two spray of urea (2%) urea at 70 DAS and 90 DAS,T13-RDF of P and K
and without N (Control). Wheat variety DBW-187 (Karan Vandana) was taken for the
experiment. The recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) was 150:60:40kg N: P2O5:K2O
per hectare and dose of Nano-Urea was 4 ml per litre of water.
Results revealed that maximum growth and yield attributes viz. plant height
(101.97cm), total tillers/m2 (365) dry-matter accumulation /m2 (1372.5g/m2) at harvest,
number of ear-heads/m2(355.67) spike length (11.43), and 1000 grain weight (43.66 g)
were recorded with the treatment 100% RDF + 2 Nano-Urea spray at 70 and 90 days
after sowing which was at par with 75% RDF+ 2 Nano-spray at 70 and 90 days after
sowing but was significantly superior to 50% RDF+ 2 Nano-Urea spray at 70 and 90
days after sowing.
It was also observed that application of 100% RDF + 2 Nano-Urea spray at 70
and 90 days after sowing showed maximum grain (52.97 q/ha) and straw yield (81.63
q/ha), net returns (rupees77360/ha) and Benefit: Cost ratio (2.06) which was at par with
75% RDF + 2 Nano-Urea sprays at 70 and 90 days after sowing in terms of grain (49.2
q/ha) and straw (77.17 q/ha) yield, net returns (rupees 69905 /ha) and B:C ratio (1.89).
The treatment 75% RDF+ 2 sprays of 2% urea gave at par grain yield (45.7 q/ha), net
returns (rupees 63468/ha), and B: C ratio (1.78) with the treatment T7 (75% RDF + 2
Nano-Urea sprays at 70 and 90 days after sowing).
The total nitrogen (137.32 kg/ha), phosphorus (22.01kg/ha) and potassium
(125.38 kg/ha) uptake by wheat crop were significantly higher with the treatment 100%
RDF + 2 Nano-Urea spray at 70 and 90 days after sowing. The results also revealed that
the available nitrogen phosphorus and potassium (kg/ha) after harvest did not show
significant difference due to different treatments under test. However, the maximum
available nitrogen (223.67kg/ha) in soil was recorded with the treatment T3 followed by
the treatment T2 (215.2 kg/ha) and T7 (213.7 kg/ha) respectively.
The correlation coefficient of grain yield in relation to plant height at harvest (r =
0.984**), dry-matter accumulation /m2 at harvest (r = 0.967**), total number of
tillers/m2 at harvest ( r = 0.974**), ear-heads/m2 (r = 0.979**), filled grains/spike (r =
0.892**), 1000 grain weight ( r = 0.864**), protein content ( r = 0.905**), total nitrogen
uptake by the crop ( r = 0.993**), total phosphorus uptake by the crop (r = 0.950**),
total potassium uptake by the crop ( r = 0.984**) revealed highly significant positive
correlation between grain yield and the selected parameters at 1% level of significance
i.e. the parameters subjected to analysis have positively and significantly contributed to
grain yield.
Based on one year of experimentation (rabi 2021-22), it may be concluded that
100% RDF integrated with 2 sprays of Nano-Urea at 70 and 90 days after sowing
produced maximum grain yield (52.97 q/ha), total nitrogen uptake (137.32 kg/ha), net
returns (rupees77360.17/ha) and B:C ratio (2.06). However, it was at par with 75% RDF
+ 2 sprays of Nano-Urea at 70 and 90 days after sowing in respect to grain yield (49.20
q/ha), net profit (rupees 69905.67/ha), B:C ratio (1.89). The treatment T8 performed at
par with the treatment T7 in terms of grain yield (45.7 q/ha), net returns (rupees
63468/ha) and B: C ratio (1.78). In case of inaccessibility to Nano-Urea the treatment
75% RDF along with 2 sprays of 2% urea can also be adopted. Therefore, it may be
culminated that application of 75% RDF along with 2 sprays of Nano-Urea at 70 and 90
days after sowing for the variety DBW-187 (Karan-Vandana) may be economically
viable option amidst all the treatments.