Performance of Mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) to foliar application of Nano and Conventional Fertilizers under reduced NPK levels at Indo-Gangetic Plain Zone

Abstract

Mungbean (Vigna radiata), an important pulse crop for nutritional security in India, often exhibits low productivity due to poor soil fertility and imbalanced nutrient management. A field experiment was conducted during the Zaid season of 2024 at the Students Instructional Farm, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, to evaluate the effect of foliar nutrition and nano-fertilizers on growth, yield and protein content. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with eight treatments and three replications. Plant population remained non-significant across treatments, with the highest values recorded under 75% NPK + nano urea at 25 DAS + nano DAP at 40 DAS (22.89 plants m⁻² at 30 DAS and 22.52 plants m⁻² at harvest). Growth parameters were significantly improved under this treatment, recording the highest plant height (49.87 cm), number of branches per plant (5.84), dry matter accumulation (14.62 g plant⁻¹), number of root nodules (18.76 plant⁻¹), and nodule dry weight (0.42 g plant⁻¹). Yield attributes were also maximized, including pods per plant (14.58), seeds per pod (8.94), pod length (6.49 cm), seed weight per plant (3.98 g), and pod weight per plant (5.24 g), while test weight was non-significant but highest (41.17 g). Consequently, the same treatment produced the highest biological yield (1877.21 kg ha⁻¹), seed yield (713.14 kg ha⁻¹), protein content (24.07%), and protein yield (204.51 kg ha⁻¹). The findings indicate that integrating 75% recommended NPK with foliar application of nano urea and nano DAP enhances nutrient use efficiency, improves growth and yield attributes, and offers a sustainable strategy for increasing mungbean productivity and quality.