Nano fertilizers as a sustainable approach to improve nutrient content and uptake of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Abstract

The study was conducted at the Main Experiment Station (MES) Vegetable Research Farm, Acharya Narendra Dev University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya (U.P.), during Rabi season 2021-22, to assess the performance of nano fertilizers on nutrient content and uptake of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Before the conducting of the experiment, the sodic soil was reclaimed, and its initial soil properties showed a silty loam texture, slightly alkaline in reaction (pH 8.12), with low available nitrogen (147.20 kg ha-1), medium in available phosphorus (14.20 kg ha-1), and high in available potassium (267.00 kg ha-1). The experiment comprised nine treatments in a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. The treatments combinations were T1 [Absolute Control (Water spray)], T2 [100% RDF (150:100:120 kg ha-1 N:P2O5:K2O)], T3 (Recommended PK + 50% RDN + Two spray of Nano N), T4 (T3 + Two spray of Nano Zn), T5 (T3 + Two spray of Nano Cu), T6 (T3 + One spray of Nano Zn + One spray of Nano Cu), T7 (Recommended PK + Two spay of Nano N), T8 (Recommended PK + Two spray of Nano N + Two spray of Nano Cu), T9 (Recommended PK + Two spray of Nano N + Two spray of Nano Zn).The results of the present study revealed that the application of RDF recorded the highest nutrient content and uptake in potatoes. Among all treatments, treatment T2 RDF (150:100:120 kg ha-1 N:P2O5:K2O) recorded the highest nutrient content in soil. It also resulted in higher nutrient content and uptake in tuber and haulm of Potato. However, nano-fertilizer treatments integrated with reduced nitrogen levels produced comparable results, indicating their potential to improve nutrient use efficiency.