Search

A field experiment was conducted during July to November of 2021 to assess the effect of nano-urea on growth and productivity of rice at ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad, Telangana State, India. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design consisting eight treatments viz., Recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through urea (T1), 50% of RDN (urea)+two foliar sprays of nano-urea @ 0.2% at Active tillering (AT) and Panicle initiation (PI) stages (T2), 75% of RDN+two foliar sprays of nano-urea @ 0.2% at AT and PI (T3), 50% of RDN+two foliar sprays of nano-urea @ 0.4% at (AT and PI) (T4), 75% of RDN+two foliar sprays of nano-urea @ 0.4% at AT and PI (T5), 25% of RDN+Four foliar sprays of nano-urea @ 0.2% at 20,33,50 and 65 DAT (T6), 25% of RDN+Four foliar sprays of nano-urea @ 0.4% 20,33,50 and 65 DAT (T7) and control (no fertilizer application) (T8). Results showed that foliar spray of nano-urea resulted in higher plant height (120.1 cm), tillers number m-2 (265) and dry matter accumulation (741.9 kg ha-1). Yield attributes viz., panicle number m-2, number of grains panicle-1, number of filled grains panicle-1 were significantly influenced by the application of nano-urea. The highest grain yield (5.39 t ha-1) and straw yield (6.73 t ha-1) was recorded with the application of 75% of RDN+two foliar sprays of nano-urea @ 0.4% at AT and PI stages. The application of nano-urea resulted in saving of nitrogen (urea) to an extent of 25%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanofertilizers release nutrients slowly and in a controlled manner, matching the plants’ growth needs. By reducing the need for chemical inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides, nanotechnology contributes to more sustainable agricultural practices. The present study used nano-urea with Azotobacter on strawberry cv. ‘Winter Dawn’ under protected cultivation to evaluate its impact on soil fertility status and leaf nutrient content. Formulations as per the treatment requirements were sprayed onto the strawberry plants. The plants provided with nano-urea formulations exhibited enhanced levels of nitrogen (2.49%), phosphorus (0.37%), and potassium (2.60%) compared to the plants treated with conventional urea. Soil nutrient analysis showed enhanced levels of NPK in soil samples from traditional application treatments. A higher concentration of microorganisms in the soil was observed when urea was applied at the nano level. Nano-urea combined with Azotobacter can significantly impact the soil’s NPK levels. This innovative blend enhances nutrient availability in the soil and promotes sustainable agricultural practices. By leveraging the nanotechnology-infused urea alongside the nitrogen-fixing process of Azotobacter bacteria, the soil experiences a synergistic boost in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content. This dynamic duo fosters a conducive environment for plant growth while minimizing nutrient leaching and environmental degradation.

The field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2022 at Forage Research Farm of Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar to study the effect of nano urea on sorghum for sustainable fodder production. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design keeping eleven treatments consisting of nitrogen fertilizers combinations of conventional and nano urea with three replications. There was significant difference among treatments in respect of growth, green and dry fodder yield of single cut forage sorghum. The maximum plant height (248.4 cm), number of leaves (14), leaf: stem (0.29), dry matter accumulation (153.62 g), leaf area index (7.55), green fodder yield (541.9 q/ha) and dry fodder yield (144.1 q/ha) were recorded with the application of 100% RDN by urea fertilizer (75 kg) as followed by 100% RDN: 50% as basal by urea fertilizer + 50% through nano-urea in two sprays at 30 and 45 DAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is widely accepted that deficiency of macro (nitrogen) and micronutrients (zinc, copper etc.) affects the plant growth and development which cause a significant threat to crop production and food security. The Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative (IFFCO) developed nano-urea (nano-N), nano-zinc (nano-Zn), and nano-copper (nano-Cu) liquid fertilizer formulations to enhance the crop yields, simultaneously addressing the nutrient deficiency, without causing toxicity. Therefore, this study was formulated to evaluate the effectiveness of nano-N (nano-urea), nano-Zn, and nano-Cu at varying N levels [0, 50, 75, and 100% of the recommended rates of nitrogen (RRN)] on maize-wheat and pearl millet-mustard systems during 2019–20 and 2020–21. The results exhibited that the application of nano-N + nano-Zn with 100% RRN exhibited significantly higher grain yields in maize (66.2–68.8%), wheat (62.6–61.9%), pearl millet (57.1–65.4%), and mustard (47.2–69.0%), respectively, over absolute control plots and combinations of three nano-fertilizers like nano-N + nano-Zn + nano-Cu applied plots. This was mainly attributed to the higher N and Zn uptake by the crops. However, 75% RRN with nano-N + nano-Zn also produced comparable yields. Thus, applying nano-N and nano-Zn via foliar applications, in conjunction with conventional urea, has the potential to reduce the required nitrogen fertilizer amount by up to 25%, while simultaneously maintaining equivalent yield levels. Similarly, 100% RRN and 75% RRN + nano-N + nano-Zn registered comparable profitability, soil mineral N, dehydrogenase activity (DHA), and soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), during both the study years. However, further research and field trials on nano fertilizers alone or in combination with conventional fertilizers are essential to fully unlock its benefits and ascertain its long-term effects which may offer a pathway to more efficient and eco-friendly crop nourishment.

Nano-fertilisers has come up to curtail the use of inorganic fertilisers and reduce the antagonistic effects of fertilizers on the environment. A field experiment was laid out under the randomised block design (RBD) in coastal West Bengal, India during kharif season of 2022 to examine the efficacy of IFFCO nano-urea in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) cultivation. The treatments were T1 = no fertiliser; T2 = recommended fertiliser dose @ 90:45:45 kgha-1:: N:P2O5:K2O; T3 = 1/3N urea, PK + 1/3N urea + 1/3 N nano-urea on equivalent basis (nano); T4 = 1/3N urea, PK + 1/3N nano + 1/3 N nano; T5 = 1/3N nano, PK + 1/3N nano + 1/3 N nano. Nitrogen was applied in three split doses whereas P and K were applied as basal. The plant vigour was recorded at 50 days after sowing using Trimble Green Seeker. T2 and T3 recorded significantly higher normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) values, and T1 recorded the lowest. Maximum okra yield was recorded in T2 whereas 44.7%, 18.5%, 38.1% and 41.2% yield reductions were recorded in T1, T3, T4, and T5, respectively. Fruit nitrogen content was also maximum in T2 (2.31% on a dry weight basis). The nitrate content in leachate was maximum in T2 (1.22 mg L-1) as compared to nano urea treated plots (0.74-0.85 mg L-1). The results of GHG measurement showed that the N2O emission decreased to 0.79-1.71 mg m-2 day-1 with nano-urea in comparison to 2.85 mg m-2 day-1 with conventional prilled urea. The field experiment showed that there was a yield penalty in case of nano-urea application but it has environmental benefits in terms of minimum nitrate level in leachate and low N2O emissions than the conventional urea application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplementation of the growing substrate by nitrogenous additives has been known to improve the production of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. ex Fr.) P. Kumm. (1871)). However, the application of nano-additives has not been reported in such cultivation yet. The study investigated the effect of nano-urea added in two different doses (3 g and 5 g per kg substrate), once (at spawning or after first flush) or twice (at spawning and after first flush) to the growing substrate consisting of wheat straw and spent oyster substrate (1:1, w/w). Results showed that the application of nano-urea once has induced the highest number of mushroom flushes (four flushes) despite the dose applied. Contrarily to early findings, where high doses of nitrogen have caused inhibition of mushroom growth and production, nano-urea application has had better effects when applied twice. With 5 g/kg, it induced the shortest period between the first and the third flush (15 days). With 3 g/kg, it resulted in the highest biological and economic yields at the third flush (332.7 g/bag and 283.1 g/bag respectively), in total (973.4 g/bag and 854.0 g/bag respectively), the highest biological efficiency (109.6%), and pileus diameter/stipe length ratio (2.8). Experimental findings of the current study may be potentially applied at commercial scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]