Effect of Nano-nutrient on Growth Attributes, Yield, Zn Content, and Uptake in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

Considering the food and nutritional security concerns, and post green revolution second generation problems i.e. increasing input use with declining efficiency trends, deteriorating soil health, depleting water resources, pollution, and narrowing profits at the end of farmers, an investigation was carried out on Wheat (Triticum aestivum) crop during 2019-20 at the crop research centre of SVPUA & T, Meerut (U.P.) to overcome these problems. Novel nutrient sources and their modes of applications with 14 treatments consisting of control, basal applications of recommended 100% NPK (150:60:40), 75% NPK (112.5:45:30) + water spray + nano N (4 ml l-1) + bio nano P (40 ml l-1) + bio nano K (40 ml l-1) + bio nano Zn (10 ml l-1) in various combinations were attempted on wheat variety DBW17 in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The results of the study revealed that wheat grown with 75% NPK + nano nutrients (N + P + K + Zn) attainted significantly better growth as reflected by taller plants (91.7 cm), more no. of tillers m-1 row length (61.8), and higher dry matter accumulation m-1 row length (239.2), recorded at harvest with grain yield of (52.4 q ha-1). The crop contained 53.2 ppm Zn in grain and 31.8 ppm Zn in straw. Applications of nano nutrients – N, P, K, Zn and N +P + K + Zn +75% NPK worked synergistically and increased grain yields by 17.9, 15.7 14.5, 16.5 and 26.9% over 100% NPK. Thus, the wheat crop grown with the application of Nano-N + 75% NPK followed Nano-Zn + 75% NPK by had attained better growth (plant height, no. of the tiller, dry matter accumulation, yield (grain), nutrient content, and nutrient uptake.