COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE EFFICACY OF VARIOUS NANO FERTILIZER LEVELS, NPK FOLIAR, AND SOIL APPLICATIONS IN ENHANCING THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF KHARIF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.)Erra Jaya Sudha, Rubina Gill, Javed Ahmad, Mastu Patel, K. Vijaya Rami Reddy, Tumaini Erasto Robert Mazengo, Mwema Felix Mwema and D. Himasameera SandilyaAbstract Maize holds significant importance as a staple crop in the rainfed regions of the Northern plains of Punjab. To maximize the utilization of nitrogen-based fertilizers, the exploration of Nano Fertilizers becomes imperative. This research paper aims to compare the effectiveness of different levels of nano fertilizers, NPK foliar application, and soil application on the growth and yield of Kharif maize (Zea mays L.). The studyâs objective is to assess the potential of nano fertilizers as a viable alternative to conventional fertilizers for enhancing crop productivity. A randomized block design with eight treatments and three replications was employed for this investigation. The results indicated that Treatment 8 (50% soil application + 50% Nano NPK) exhibited superior performance in terms of influencing growth attributes and yield of Kharif maize. However, Treatments 50% NPK and Nano NPK, with soil application and foliar application respectively, showcased promising outcomes compared to other treatments. These findings suggest that this combination could be an appropriate management strategy to achieve sustainability. Moreover, the use of Nanoparticle fertilization proves to be a safe method for elevating plant nutrition levels without compromising the environment. This research paper provides detailed insights into the application of Nano urea, Nano NPK, and foliar NPK (19:19:19) in relevant treatments. |