Effect of foliar application of different sources of nutrients on growth of Jambheri seedlings in secondary nursery stage

Introduction

Citrus rootstocks play a vital role in commercial citrus cultivation across all major citrusgrowing regions (Bowman & Joubert, 2020) [6] . Citrus jambheri, commonly known as rough lemon, holds paramount importance as a rootstock for mandarin varieties within the citrus genus, particularly in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra and its surroundings. Rootstock selection is critical, impacting graft compatibility, resilience to environmental stressors such as drought and frost, and overall plant performance like, seedling growth, tree vigour, fruit yield etc. (Ahmed et al., 2006) [2] . Rootstocks play a pivotal role in nutrient and water uptake, influencing crop yield and fruit quality (Al-Jaleel et al., 2005) [3] . Additionally, they contribute significantly to plant tolerance against pathogens like Citrus tristeza virus (CTV), Phytophthora, nematodes, and salinity stress (Singh et al., 2019) [16] . Nitrogen is indispensable for fruit trees, influencing shoot growth and fruit quality. Using foliar spraying of some nutrients such as nitrogen stimulate plant growth and compensate for the deficiency in these elements, which accelerates the fruit size, diminished leaf size, and overall stunted tree growth. Phosphorus is vital for various physiological processes, including plant growth, photosynthesis, and energy storage. Potassium is crucial for maintaining cell turgor, regulating water balance, facilitating photosynthesis, and mitigating respiration (Conley et al., 2009) [8] . The integration of nanotechnology in agriculture represents a significant breakthrough, offering efficient and cost-effective fertilization solutions. Nano-fertilizers, characterized by their high surface area and ability to encapsulate and slowly release nutrient ions, hold promise for enhancing crop productivity (Naderi and Danesh-Shahraki 2013) [13] . They improve nutrient utilization efficiency, stimulate photosynthetic activity, mitigate toxicity risks, and streamline fertilization practices by reducing the need for multiple applications. In nursery management, the judicious application of diverse fertilizers and micronutrients is imperative for fostering robust seedling growth and ensuring the establishment of healthy plant stocks. This study aims to evaluate the most effective nutrient source for Citrus jambheri (rough lemon) seedlings during their early growth stages with the goal of optimizing fertilization techniques for better seedling establishment and long-term crop success.

Materials and Methods

The experiment is entitled ''Effect of foliar application of different sources of nutrients on growth of Jambheri seedlings in secondary nursery''. The study will be A total of nine treatments will be evaluated using 60 Jambheri seedlings.

Observations will be recorded on the 150th day posttransplanting. Key growth parameters, including the number of shoots per seedling, number of leaves per seedling, shoot length, seedling diameter, number of buddable seedlings, leaf area, budding success, and time required for sprouting, will be meticulously documented.

Results and Discussion

Effect of foliar application of different sources of nutrients on growth of jambheri seedlings in secondary nursery.

The effect of foliar application of nano-fertilizers on the growth of Jambheri seedlings was assessed through several growth parameters including the number of shoots per seedling, number of leaves per seedling, shoot length, seedling diameter, number of buddable seedlings, leaf area, budding success, and the time required for sprouting, as presented in Table 1.

Number of shoots

The data with respect to the effect of foliar application of different sources of nutrients on growth of shoot length, Significantly maximum number of shoots per seedling (5.22) was observed with Nano Urea 200 ppm (T 3 ), which was statistically at par with Nano DAP 200 ppm (T 6 ), Nano Urea 150 ppm (T 2 ), and Nano Urea 100 ppm (T 1 ), recording 5.00, 4.89, and 4.78 shoots respectively. The minimum number of shoots (2.33) was recorded in control (T 9 ). The increased shoot number may be attributed to enhanced nutrient mobilization, photosynthesis, and assimilate translocation by Nano Urea 200 ppm. These results align with findings by Mustafa et al., (2022) [12] on Mandarin.

Seedling diameter

The maximum seedling diameter (0.87 cm) was recorded with Nano DAP 200 ppm (T 6 ), which was statistically at par with T 5 (0.83 cm) and T 3 (0.77 cm). The lowest diameter (0.43 cm) was observed in control (T 9 ). Nano-nutrient application may promote cell wall extensibility, elongation, and increased IAA synthesis leading to thicker stems (Sebastian et al., (2020) [15] . Similar results were reported by Kumar et al., (2012) [11] and Al-Jilihawi & Merza (2020) [4] .

Shoot length

The treatment with T 6 T 6 (Nano DAP 200 ppm) recorded the highest shoot length (26.77 cm), statistically at par with T 3 (26.54 cm), T 2 (25.51 cm), T 5 (24.99 cm), and T 4 (24.70 cm). Minimum shoot length (18.14 cm) was found in control (T 9 ). This increase may be due to improved nitrogen availability enhancing photosynthesis and membrane permeability. These findings agree with Dubey et al., (2003) [9] , Chaurasiya et al., (2005) [7] , and Kumar et al., (2012) [11] .

Number of leaves

The maximum number of leaves per plant (84.44) was recorded in both T 6 (Nano DAP 200 ppm) and T 3 (Nano Urea 200 ppm), while the minimum (19.55) was recorded in control (T 9 ). The increased leaf number may be attributed to combined nitrogen and phosphorus availability enhancing branch formation and leaf development. These results are supported by Sebastian et al., (2020) [15] and Patel et al., (2022) [14] .

Leaf area

Treatment T 6 (Nano DAP 200 ppm) recorded the highest leaf area per seedling (22.85 cm²), followed by T 3 (22.31 cm²), T 5 (21.62 cm²), and T 2 (21.19 cm²). The lowest leaf area (16.48 cm²) was observed in control (T 9 ). Nano DAP enhances physiological functions, promoting better water and nutrient uptake, which results in larger leaves. Similar findings were reported by Khalaf et al., (2023) [10] and Mustafa et al., (2022) [12] . Climatic conditions also affect the leaf area of seedling (Bhusari and Gaikwad 2025) [5]

Buddable seedlings

The highest percentage of buddable seedlings (83.44%) was recorded in T 6 (Nano DAP 200 ppm), followed by T 5 (80.00%) and T 4 (76.67%), with the lowest (55%) in control (T 9 ). Nano DAP stimulates cell division, shoot elongation, and water uptake, which favors higher buddable seedling production. This observation concurs with Abobatta et al., (2023) [1] .

Budding success

The treatment T 6 (Nano DAP 200 ppm) recorded the highest budding success (78.06%), whereas the lowest (64.24%) was observed in control (T 9 ). This can be attributed to improved seedling vigor and graft union compatibility under nano-nutrient treatments.

Time required for sprouting

Earliest sprouting (43.78 days) was recorded in T 6 (Nano DAP 200 ppm), while the longest time (48.66 days) was taken in control (T 9 ). Nano DAP likely accelerated physiological activities, leading to faster sprouting.

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