Effect of application of nano urea and nano DAP on growth characters of soybean (Glycine max L.)

Introduction

The wonder crop 'soybean' (Glycine max L. Merrill) is a leguminous crop and belongs to family Leguminosae with sub family Papilionaceae having chromosomes number 2n=40. It is grown in tropical, sub-tropical, and temperate climates. It is also known as "Golden Bean" of the 21 st century because of its nutritive value and regarded a substitute or compliment of protein. It is one of the most important protein and oilseed crop throughout the world. Its oil is the largest component of the world's edible oil production. It is native of China and it was introduced to India in 1968. Soybean is also known as the "Miracle crop" because of its multiple uses. Soybean seed contains 18-20% oil, 40% protein, 30% carbohydrates, 4% saponin and 5% fiber. It is commonly used as pulse, oil seed, vegetarian meat and milk and oil is also used as a raw material in manufacturing antibiotics, paints, varnishes, adhesives and lubricants etc. Soybean has many important roles in human and animal nutrition. Achieving optimum quantity and increasing quality of soybean seeds depend upon many factors among which plant nutrition has critical importance. (Imliwati et al., 2016) [5] . Nano-fertilizers have distinct properties due to their small size and large surface area which leads to an increase in the surface of absorption which is reflected in the increase of photosynthesis rate, thus increased plant productivity. As a result, nanotechnology is used to produce these agriculturally useful nanoparticles and it can be used in increasing the value of agricultural production (Noaema et al., 2020) [11] . Nano-fertilizers play a crucial role in agriculture by enhancing crop growth, yield and quality while minimizing fertilizer wastage and cultivation costs. Through nanotechnology these fertilizers can mitigate nutrient loss via leaching thus reducing water and soil pollution. Their small particle size and large surface area enable better nutrient penetration in to the plant tissue, improving nutrient uptake and efficiency (Dimkpa et al., 2019) [3] .

Nano urea exhibits a slow-release nitrogen pattern, enabling more efficient nutrient utilization with reduced fertilizer application. Nano urea offers cost-effectiveness and requires minimal quantities. Its most significant advantage when used for crop cultivation is its minimal environmental impact. Nano DAP is an efficient source of available nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P 2 O 5 ) for all the crops. It corrects the nitrogen & phosphorus deficiencies in standing crops. Nutrient use efficiency is more than 90 percent under optimum field conditions. Beneficial as seed primer for early germination and vigour, enhances crop growth boosts crop yield and quality, boosts crop yield. It is cheaper than conventional DAP and is economical for the farmers and fit for residue free agriculture. (IFFCO, 2023) [4] . Now-a-days nano fertilizer technology is gaining importance for foliar application of nitrogen (N) through nano urea and phosphorus (P) through nano DAP with respect of growth and development, yield, quality and tolerance abiotic stress in crops. With this background the present study involving nano urea and nano DAP foliar application on vegetative and reproductive growth stages of soybean crop. Therefore, it was proposed to carried out this experiment.

Materials and Methods

The experiment was conducted in kharif season of 2023 T 1 + foliar spray of 100% nano urea and nano DAP at 20 and 40 DAS respectively. The Gross size of experimental plot was 6.00×4.50 m and Soybean cultivar 'PDKV -Amba' was sown with spacing of 45 x 5 cm 2 apart by dibbling method. Seed of PDKV -Amba was sown @ 62 kg ha - 1 on 14th July of 2023. 30:60:30 NPK kg/ha used as RDF i.e., Recommended dose of fertilizers for this variety. Basal application of conventional fertilizers was given at the time of sowing. 100%, 75%, 50% and 25% nano urea and DAP used as 4 ml/l, 3ml/l, 2ml/l and 1ml/l for this experiment. Foliar application of nano urea and DAP was given by knapsack sprayer at 20 and 40 days after sowing. Data was recorded from five plants selected randomly from each replication of treatment. The harvesting of soybean crop was done on 16th October of 2023. Data on growth parameters such as plant height, number of branches, leaf area, dry matter accumulation and root biomass per plant of soybean were analysed statistically using ANOVA.

Results and Discussion

Data suggested that at 20 DAS plant height results were found non-significant, while significant variation was noticed regarding plant height at 40, 60, 80 DAS and at harvest. Plant height at 40, 60, 80 DAS and at harvest was found significant. The mean of plant height was recorded as 31.42, 40.53, 45.63 and 44.11 cm respectively. At these stages significantly maximum plant height was observed in treatment T 2 (100% RD of NPK (conventional) at the time of sowing) and it was found at par with treatment T 5 (Seed priming with nano DAP + 75% conventional urea & DAP basal at sowing + foliar spray of 25% nano urea & nano DAP at 20 and 40 DAS). These treatments were found to be superior over treatments T 1 , T 3 and T 6 respectively except at 60 DAS where treatment T 5 was found at par with treatment T 3 . However, treatment T 5 ( [10] , Jadhav et al. (2023) [6] and Vyankatrao et al. (2024) [15] .

Number of branches plant -1

The observations suggested that at 20 DAS the number of branches plant -1 results were found to be non-significant, while significant variation was noticed regarding number of branches [8] and Balachandrakumar et al. (2024) [2] .

Leaf area plant -1 (dm 2 )

Data suggested that at 20 DAS leaf area plant -1 (dm 2 ) results were found to be non-significant, while significant variation was noticed regarding leaf area per plant at 40, 60 and 80 DAS. It was observed that the mean leaf area (dm [8] and Abisankar et al. (2024) [1] . The results obtained in this regard are in close accordance with Srivastava and Singh (2023) [14] , Saitheja et al. (2022) [12] and Singh et al. (2023) [13] . Root biomass plant -1 (g) Data suggested that at 20 DAS the root biomass plant -1 result was found to be non-significant, while significant variation was noticed regarding root biomass plant -1 at 40, 60 and 80 DAS.

The number of root biomass plant -1 at 40, 60 and 80 DAS was found to be significant. The mean root biomass plant -1 was recorded 1.40, 4.22 and 3.01 g respectively. At all the stages maximum root biomass plant These views are also supported by Liu and Lal (2021) [9] and Kanjilal et al. (2023) [7] .

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