Growth and yield enhancement of spring maize through nano DAP and nano zinc fertilization

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy Research Farm, ANDUAT, Kumarganj, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, during the spring 2025, to test the hypothesis that partial substitution of the recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) with foliar applied Nano DAP and Nano Zn can match or exceed the growth, and yield obtained with full RDF in maize. The experiment was laid out in RCBD with 8 treatments which are replicated thrice. In medium-P soils, application of 75% RDF supplemented with one foliar spray of Nano DAP at the knee-high stage and Nano Zn at the tasselling stage significantly outperformed the absolute control and recorded growth and yield significantly higher than 100% RDF, with grain yield about 17% higher than full RDF. The same treatment gave about 21% higher net returns and around 15% higher benefit-cost ratio than 100% RDF. It is concluded that application of 75% RDF + foliar sprays of Nano DAP at the knee-high stage and Nano Zn at the tasselling stage could be an economical and sustainable nutrient management strategy in spring maize in eastern Uttar Pradesh.