Effect of nano-urea and irrigation regimes on growth parameters of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Nano-urea and irrigation regimes effects on wheat

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2021–22 at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Jharkhand to investigate the effect of irrigation regimes and nano-urea based nitrogen management on the growth parameters of wheat. The experiment was tested in split plot design with 3-irrigation regimes (5-irrigations (CRI, late jointing, flowering, milk and dough); 3-irrigations (CRI, flowering and milk) and 2-irrigations (CRI and flowering)) in main-plots and 5-nano-urea based nitrogen management (control (no nitrogen); 100% RDN (120 kg N/ha); 50% RDN + nano- urea spray at 60 DAS; 50% RDN + nano-urea spray at 45 & 70 DAS and 75% RDN + nano-urea spray at 60 DAS) in sub-plots with replicated thrice. Results revealed that irrigation regimes registered non-significant effects on crop growth parameters like plant height, LAI, root dry weight, flag leaf area and tillers/m² which might be due to frequent rainfall up to flowering stage during the crop growth period. Higher levels of nitrogen in the form of commercial urea significantly increased plant height, LAI, flag leaf area, recovered root dry weight and dry matter accumulation. However, nano-urea spray at 45 DAS helped crop plants positively to increase all growth parameters more compared to nano-urea spray at 60 DAS. All growth attributes with 50% RDN+2-nano-urea spray were statistically at par with 50% RDN+1 nano-urea spray up to 40 DAS but after the flowering stage it was statistically similar with 100% RDN. The maximum tillers/m² was found under 100% RDN and it was followed by 75% RDN+ one nano-urea spray and 50% RDN+2 nano-urea spray. Thus, 3-irrigations at CRI, flowering and milk and 100% RDN (120 kg N/ha) were found sufficient for enhancing growth parameters of wheat.