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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

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

Comparative analysis of foliar application of nano zinc with nano macro nutrients in spring maize in the Punjab Region

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.14269
Submitted
27 February 2026
Published
30-07-2026

Abstract

A field study was undertaken to assess the influence of foliar application of nano-zinc and nano-based macronutrients on the growth, physiological performance, nutrient uptake and overall productivity of spring maize. This field experiment was carried out during the spring season of 2025 at the agricultural farm of Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, under the prevailing agro-climatic conditions of Punjab. The experimental trial was arranged in a randomised block design (RBD) comprising 10 treatments that integrated the recommended dosage of fertilisers (RDF) with the foliar sprays of nano-zinc, nano-urea, nano-diammonium phosphate (DAP). and nano K2O at 0.5 % and 1.0 % concentration at 35 days after sowing (DAS) and 55 DAS. Application of nano-zinc at 1.0 % concentration along with 100 % RDF under treatment T3 at 35 and 55 DAS markedly improved plant height, number of functional leaves per plant, leaf area index, chlorophyll concentration, biomass accumulation and early flowering compared with RDF alone.  The yield attributes, i.e., grain yield (52 q ha-1), stover yield (71 q ha-1) and harvest index (42.13 %), were also found to be highest under T3 (100 % RDF + foliar application of nano-zinc at 1.0 %). Its performance remained statistically at par with the treatment 100 % RDF + foliar application of nano-DAP at 1.0 % concentration under T7. In contrast, the control treatment (T0) recorded the lowest grain yield (21 q ha-1), stover yield (37 q ha-1) and harvest index (35.69 %) across growth, yield and nutrient parameters. The findings suggest that supplementing 100 % RDF + 1.0 % foliar spray of nano-zinc represents an effective and sustainable nutrient management strategy for improving physiological efficiency, nutrient acquisition and the overall productivity of spring maize under Punjab conditions.

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