Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. sp5 (2026): Recent Advances in Agriculture

Evaluating combined nano and conventional urea on yield, quality and economics in maize

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.13830
Submitted
25 January 2026
Published
04-08-2026

Abstract

The study was conducted at Regional Research Station, Karnal during 2022 in kharif season. Nine treatments- T1 : control (no recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN)), T2 : 100 % RDN through urea (150-60-60 kg ha-1), T3 : 100 % RDN (three foliar spray of nano-urea at 15, 30 and 45 days after sowing (DAS)), T4 : 100 % RDN (50 % as basal by urea + one foliar spray of nano-urea at 45 DAS), T5 : 100 % RDN (50 % as basal by urea + two foliar sprays of nano-urea at 30 and 45 DAS), T6 : 75 % RDN (50 % as basal by urea + one foliar spray of nano-urea at 45 DAS), T7 : 75 % RDN (50 % as basal by urea + two foliar sprays of nano-urea at 30 and 45 DAS), T8 : 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 randomised block design (RBD) with 3 replications. Highest number of cobs/meter row length (4.7 cm), number of cobs (000 ha-1) (63.0), number of grains/cob (453.3) and 1000-grains weight (32.0) was recorded by 100 % RDN through urea. Highest grain yield (76.5 q ha-1) was recorded by 100 % RDN through urea which was statistically on par with 100 % RDN (50 % as basal by urea + two foliar sprays of nano-urea at 30 and 45 DAS). Highest protein content (11.4 %) was recorded with 100 % RDN through urea. Maximum gross returns (₹ 146899 ha-1), net returns (₹ 78450 ha-1) and benefit : cost (B : C) (2.08) were recorded with 100 % RDN through urea. This study recommends combined application of urea and nano urea for better productivity and profitability.

References

  1. 1. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service. World corn production and area harvested, 2024/25. In: Production, Supply and Distribution (PS&D) Online. 2025.
  2. 2. Singh N, Sharma P, Kamboj MC. Maize scenario in Haryana: A brief review. Int J Pure Appl Biosci. 2017;5(6):1616–23. https://doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.5949
  3. 3. Parkinson JA, Allen SE. A wet oxidation procedure suitable for determination of N and mineral nutrients in biological materials. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal. 1975;6(1):1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103627509366539
  4. 4. Panse VG, Sukhatme PV. Statistical methods for agricultural workers. New Delhi: ICAR; 1978.
  5. 5. Sheoran OP, Tonk DS, Kaushik LS, Hasija RC, Pannu RS. Statistical software package for agricultural research workers. In: Hooda DS, Hasija RC, editors. Recent advances in information theory, statistics & computer applications. Hisar: Department of Mathematics & Statistics, CCS Haryana Agricultural University; 1998. p. 139–43.
  6. 6. Nirere D, Mbaraka SR, Rucamumihigo FX, Murorunkwere F, Musana FR, Rukangantambara H. Effect of foliar application of nitrogen-phosphorus potassium fertilizers on nutrient uptake and protein content of maize. Afr J Biotechnol. 2021;20(12):465–9. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJB2021.17383
  7. 7. Rathnayaka RMNN, Iqbal YB, Rifnas LM. Influence of urea and nano-nitrogen fertilizers on the growth and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivar 'Bg 250'. Int J Res Publ. 2018;5(2):7.
  8. 8. Adhikari K, Bhandari S, Aryal K, Mahato M, Shrestha J. Effect of different levels of nitrogen on growth and yield of hybrid maize (Zea mays L.) varieties. J Agric Nat Resour. 2021;4(2):48–62. https://doi.org/10.3126/janr.v4i2.33656
  9. 9. Khalil MH, Abou-Hadid AF, Abdrabou RT, Al-Halim A, AbdEl-Maaboud MS. Response of two maize cultivars (Zea mays L.) to organic manure and mineral nano nitrogen fertilizer under Siwa Oasis conditions. Arab Univ J Agric Sci. 2019;27(1):299–312. https://doi.org/10.21608/ajs.2019.43527
  10. 10. Sindhu S, Kathwal R, Kumari A, Prakash R, Singh D, Dagar R. Nano urea as a sustainable nutrient strategy for improving phenological traits, quality and soil fertility in wheat in semi-arid regions of Haryana. Indian J Ecol. 2025;52(6):1430–5. https://doi.org/10.55362/IJE/2025/4669
  11. 11. Singh J, Partap R, Singh A, Kumar N. Effect of nitrogen and zinc on growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.). Int J Bio-resour Stress Manag. 2021;12(3):179–85. https://doi.org/10.23910/1.2021.2212
  12. 12. Jajoria DK, Kaushik MK, Sharma SS. Effect of sowing dates and foliar spray of urea on yield attributes and yield of maize cultivars. Int J Curr Microbiol Appl Sci. 2020;9(6):946–56. https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2020.906.119
  13. 13. Ajithkumar K, Kumar Y, Savitha AS, Ajayakumar MY, Narayanaswamy C, Raliya R, et al. Effect of IFFCO nanofertilizer on growth, grain yield and managing turcicum leaf blight disease in maize. Int J Plant Soil Sci. 2021;33(16):19–28. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijpss/2021/v33i1630519
  14. 14. Rajesh KV, Kumar M. Impact of nano nitrogen application on yield and profitability of oats (Avena sativa L.). Agri Articles. 2022;2(1):148–50.
  15. 15. Saitheja V, Senthivelu M, Prabukumar G, Prasad VBR. Maximizing the productivity and profitability of summer irrigated green gram (Vigna radiata L.) by combining basal nitrogen dose and foliar nutrition of nano and normal urea. Int J Plant Soil Sci. 2022;34(22):109–16. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijpss/2022/v34i2231362

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.