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

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the Kharif season of 2024 at the Experimental Farm, Agronomy Section, College of Agriculture, Latur, to study the Impact of Nano Urea and Nano DAP on Growth and Yield Performance of Soybean (Glycine max L.). The soil was well-drained, and the field had uniform topography, providing favourable conditions for crop growth. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with eight treatments replicated three times. The treatments were T₁ - Control (No fertilizer), T₂ - 100% RDF (30:60:30 NPK kg ha⁻¹), T₃ - 100% RDF + two sprays of Nano Urea at 30 DAS and 45 DAS, T₄ - 100% RDF + two sprays of Nano DAP at 30 DAS and 45 DAS, T₅ - 5% RDF + two sprays of Nano Urea at 30 DAS and 45 DAS, T₆ - 75% RDF + two sprays of Nano DAP at 30 DAS and 45 DAS, T₇ - 75% RDF + one spray of Nano Urea at 30 DAS and one spray of Nano DAP at 45 DAS, and T₈ - 75% RDF + one spray of Nano DAP at 30 DAS and one spray of Nano Urea at 45 DAS. Soybean was sown by the dibbling method using a seed rate of 65 kg ha⁻¹. The results indicated that growth and yield attributes of soybean were significantly influenced by the different treatments. Among these, the application of 100% RDF + two sprays of Nano Urea at 30 DAS and 45 DAS (T₃) resulted in the highest growth parameters including plant height (66.71 cm), number of functional leaves (19.43), number of branches per plant (9.23), and dry matter accumulation (43.24 g), which were statistically at par with treatments T₄ and T₂. Similarly, T₃ also recorded the highest yield attributes, such grain yield (3286 kg ha⁻¹), straw yield (5351 kg ha⁻¹), biological yield (8637 kg ha⁻¹), and harvest index (38.08%). These findings suggest that the integration of 100% RDF with foliar application of Nano Urea at critical growth stages can significantly enhance the growth, yield, and overall productivity of soybean.