Effect of nano fertilizers on growth, yield and economics of summer pearl millet

Introduction

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) belongs to the Poaceae family and has a chromosome number of 2n = 14. It is commonly known as cattail millet or bulrush millet, it is known as "bajra" in Hindi. Pearl millet is classified as a coarse grain cereal crop. It is consumed as feed and fodder for livestock. India accounts for half of global millet production in the country. It is the 6th important cereal crop in the world next to wheat, rice, maize, barley and sorghum. In India, it holds significant importance among millet crops, demonstrating remarkable adaptability to extreme environmental conditions. It serves as a crucial dietary staple, particularly in arid and drought-prone regions, offering a reliable source of nutrition within a short growth cycle. It is a hot and warm weather crop and grows between 28°C to 37°C. The rainfall requirement for pearl millet crop is between 350 to 500 mm. Pearl millet grain has a rich nutritional profile, containing approximately 11.6% protein, 5% fat, 67% carbohydrates and 2.7% minerals. In addition to being consumed by humans, a sizable amount of pearl millet is utilized in the manufacturing of alcohol, cattle feed and poultry, demonstrating its economic adaptability (Basavaraj et al., 2010) [2] . Phosphorus is vital for the development of robust roots and seeds in plants. It also plays a crucial role in DNA replication, enabling the formation of cell walls and facilitating the entire reproductive process. Since nitrogen is essential to many plant structures and their internal and exterior metabolic activities, it is a critical element for plant growth. Nano fertilizers applied filially is superior to traditional fertilizer because it directly contacts the leaves and is absorbed by the intended organs, producing a more focused and prompt reaction. Because they are more reactive and have the potential to pierce the cuticle, nano fertilizers can be released and delivered in controlled amounts. The nano DAP formulation comprises 8.0% nitrogen (N w/v) and 16.0% phosphorus (P 2 O 5 w/v), striking a balanced and concentrated nutrient blend that supports robust plant growth, elevates crop quality and amplifies yields. The nano urea formulation comprises 20.0% nitrogen (N w/v), Nano urea promotes healthy plant growth, leading to improved crop yields and quality.

Methodology

An experiment was conducted during the summer season of 2025 at Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh (Gujarat). The mean maximum and minimum temperature during the crop growth and development period ranged between 33.7 to 41.2 ℃ and 20.6 to 27.6 ℃, respectively. The soil of the experimental site was clayey in texture (Sand 23.10%, silt 14.11% and clay 62.79%) with a pH of 7.9. The soil was found medium in organic carbon (0.58%), available N (262 kg/ha), available P (30.21 kg/ha) and available K (217 kg/ha). The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with three replications and ten treatments. As per recommendation, half dose of nitrogen and full dose of phosphorus were applied as basal dose in the previously opened furrows to all the plots in the form of urea and DAP, respectively. Remain half dose of nitrogen was applied at 30 DAS through urea as top dressing.

Results and Discussion

Growth parameters Plant height (cm) Plant height was significantly produced a much larger plant height of 205 cm in treatment T 6 (75% RDF + seed treatment with nano DAP 5 ml/kg + spray of nano urea 4 ml/L at 45 DAS). Combining foliar spraying of nano fertilizers with basal application of conventional fertilizers could have led to a substantial increase in plant height by increasing the plant auxin metabolism and enzyme activity. Because of the cells subsequent expansion and elongation, plants may have grown taller. Furthermore, the surface area of nano fertilizers is significantly greater than that of conventional fertilizers, increasing the plant metabolic efficiency. Khandare et al. (2024) [9] , Tomar et al. (2024) [16] , Dobariya et al. (2025) [7] and Jivtode et al. (2025) [8] , all reported results that were consistent with our study.

The amount of dry matter buildup by each plant was significantly accumulates the greater dry matter (87.46 g) was T 6 (75% RDF + seed treatment with nano DAP 5 ml/kg + spray of nano urea 4 ml/L at 45 DAS). The beneficial effects of nano fertilizers on plant height and tiller count are responsible for the significant increase in dry matter accumulation per plant. Another explanation for the notable rise in dry matter in the treatments of nano applied at optimal fertility levels could be the enhanced photosynthetic rate and increased food production in leaves. Increased dry matter accumulation may have resulted from improved use of available nutrients and solar radiation due to a larger leaf area. These results closely match those of Borana et al. (2024a) [4] , Khandare et al. (2024) [9] , Meena et al. (2024) [13] and Dobariya et al. (2025) [7] .

Number of total tillers per plant

The treatment T 6 (75% RDF + seed treatment with nano DAP 5 ml/kg + spray of nano urea 4 ml/L at 45 DAS) was found to have a significantly greater total tillers/plant (5.44). The combined effect between conventional fertilizer and nano fertilizer, which improves nutrient absorption by plant cells and eventually promotes optimal development and metabolic processes like photosynthesis, is responsible for this impressive impact. Higher photosynthate accumulation and transfer to economically significant plant sections follow, increasing the total tillers. The results of this research were consistent with those of Borana et al.

(2024b) [4] , Maloth et al. (2024) [12] , Chaudhari et al. (2025) [5] and Dobariya et al. (2025) [7] .

Yield parameters and Yield Effective tillers per plant

The effective tillers/plant was significantly higher (4.16) when treatment T 6 (75% RDF + seed treatment with nano DAP 5 ml/kg + spray of nano urea 4 ml/L at 45 DAS) was applied. Because of their smaller particle size, which enables better absorption by the plant tissues, nano fertilizers are renowned for their increased nutrient uptake efficiency. The higher photosynthetic efficiency and increased metabolic activity that facilitate the growth of tillers capable of generating viable grains can also account for the increased number of effective tillers under treatments utilizing nano DAP. Borana et al. (2024b) [4] , Meena et al. (2024) [13] Chaudhari et al. (2025) [5] and Kumar et al. (2025) [11] also reported similar outcomes.

Treatment T 6 (75% RDF + seed treatment with nano DAP 5 ml/kg + spray of nano urea 4 ml/L at 45 DAS) produced the largest ear head length (31.04 cm). The improved nutrient uptake and utilization efficiency attained by the combined application of conventional fertilizer and nano fertilizer may be the cause of the significantly increase in ear head length because of its high reactivity and small particle size, nano fertilizer increases the availability and absorption of nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, which are necessary for cell division, ear head growth, and elongation, resulting in longer ears. These results are consistent with those reported by Chinnappa et al. (2023) [6] , Meena et al. (2024) [13] , Borana et al. (2024b) [4] , Chaudhari et al.

(2025) [5] and Dobariya et al. (2025) [7] .

Treatment T 6 (75% RDF + seed treatment with nano DAP 5 ml/kg + spray of nano urea 4 ml/L at 45 DAS) produced the ear head girth that was significantly larger (8.63 cm). The balanced and constant supply of nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, which are essential for the development of reproductive organs and grain sink capacity, is responsible for the rise in ear head girth. The administration of nano DAP probably improved ear girth by ensuring higher nutrient availability throughout the growth period, particularly during the stages of grain development and ear head differentiation. The findings are consistent with those of Chaudhari et al. (2025) [5] and Dobariya et al. (2025) [7] .

The highest notable grain yield (4,535 kg/ha) was achieved by treatment T 6 (75% RDF + seed treatment with nano DAP 5 ml/kg + spray of nano urea 4 ml/L at 45 DAS). This could be because applying conventional and nano fertilizers together guaranteed optimal and balanced nutrient availability throughout the growing season. Because of their smaller size and greater effective surface area, nanoparticles can more readily enter plants and improve their uptake of phosphorus and nitrogen. Higher uptake leads to the best possible growth of plant parts and metabolic processes like photosynthesis, which boost the accumulation and translocation of photosynthates to the economically productive parts of the plant, increasing biomass, yield-attributing characteristics, and ultimately yield by increasing the translocation of assimilates to grains. The findings are consistent with those of by Borana et al. (2024b) [4] , Dobariya et al. (2025) [7] , Jivtode et al. (2025) [8] , Kumar et al. (2025) [11] and Yewale et al. (2025) [17] . Stover yield (kg/ha) Treatment T 6 (75% RDF + seed treatment with nano DAP 5 ml/kg + spray of nano urea 4 ml/L at 45 DAS) produced the greatest stover (9,303 kg/ha). The rise in stover output after foliar spraying may have been caused by plants quick uptake and ease of translocation of nano fertilizers. A larger stover yield was the outcome of this improved rate of photosynthesis and dry matter accretion. Singh et al. (2023) [14] , Khemshetty et al. (2024) [10] , Suryawanshi et al. (2024) [15] , Dobariya et al. (2025) [7] , Kumar et al. (2025) [11] and Yewale et al. (2025) [17] all found similar results.

Economics

Gross return

The maximum gross realization of 1,29,539 ₹/ha was attained by treatment T 6 (75% RDF + seed treatment with nano DAP 5 ml/kg + spray of nano urea 4 ml/L at 45 DAS), compared to the other treatments could account for the higher gross return. These findings closely align with those of Balachandrakumar et al. (2024b) [3] , Suryawanshi et al. (2024) [15] , Dobariya et al. (2025) [7] and Yewale et al. (2025) [17] .

Net return

The greatest net returns of 83,886 ₹/ha were produced by treatment T 6 (75% RDF + seed treatment with nano DAP 5 ml/kg + spray of nano urea 4 ml/L at 45 DAS), Due to increased grain and stover yield as well as decreased treatment costs. These results are consistent with those published by Attri et al. (2023) [1] , Balachandrakumar et al. (2024b) [3] , Suryawanshi et al. (2024) [15] , Dobariya et al. (2025) [7] and Yewale et al. (2025) [17] .

Benefit:Cost ratio

Plant height was significantly produced a much larger plant height of 205 cm in treatment T 6 (75% RDF + seed treatment with nano DAP 5 ml/kg + spray of nano urea 4 ml/L at 45 DAS) had the greatest B:C ratio of 2.84, due to large grain and stover production. These results are consistent with those published by Meena et al. (2024) [13] , Suryawanshi et al. (2024) [15] , Dobariya et al. (2025) [7] and Yewale et al. (2025) [17] .

Conclusion

Based on one year of field experimentation, it can be concluded that the application of 75% RDF + seed treatment with nano DAP 5 ml/kg + spray of nano urea 4 ml/L at 45 DAS proved to be the most effective in improving growth, yield and quality of summer pearl millet. Economically this treatment gives higher net returns under the South Saurashtra Agro-climatic zone. This treatment also demonstrated better economic viability compared to other nutrient management practices. The next best treatments were application of 100% RDF (120:60:00 kg N: P 2 O 5 :K 2 O/ha) and 75% RDF + spray of nano urea 4 ml/L at 45 DAS.

Acknowledgement

AcknowledgementIt is by the grace and will of the Almighty that I have this wonderful opportunity to express my gratitude to those who have aided and assisted me at various phases of my M.Sc. study and in the compilation of my research work. I would like to offer my profound and genuine gratitude to all of the staff members of the Departments of Agronomy and Departments of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, JAU, Junagadh for their unwavering cooperation and encouragement.

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