Effect of Foliar Nutrition of Nano Urea on Growth, Yield Attributes, Yield and Economics of Groundnut [Arachis hypogaea (L.)]

Abstract

Groundnut is the 13th most important food crop and the fourth most important oilseed crop in the world. Groundnut seeds contain about 50% edible oil. Foliar nutrient application is a feasible, economically viable, and eco-friendly approach to nutrient management. It is often an effective and economical method for correcting plant nutrient deficiencies at critical growth stages. Foliar application may promote the root absorption of the same or other nutrients by improving root growth and nutrient uptake. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted at two locations, namely the Regional Research Station, Vridhachalam, and the Oilseeds Research Station, Tindivanam, during the kharif seasons of 2022 and 2023 to study the effect of foliar nano urea application on the growth, yield, and quality of groundnut. The experiment was laid out in a randomised block design with four replications and six treatments: T1, 100% RDN (25 kg N/ha) through granular urea (GU), with 50% applied as basal (27.5 kg), 25% at the flowering stage (FS; 13.75 kg), and 25% at peg formation (PF; 13.75 kg); T2, 50% RDN through GU as basal + 50% RDN through nano urea (NU; 275 mL) at FS; T3, 50% RDN through GU as basal + 50% RDN through NU (275 mL) at PF; T4, 50% RDN through GU as basal + 25% RDN through NU (137.5 mL) at FS + 25% RDN through NU (137.5 mL) at PF; T5, 50% RDN through GU as basal + 30% RDN through NU (165 mL) at FS + 20% RDN through NU (110 mL) at PF; and T6, 50% RDN through GU as basal + 40% RDN through NU (220 mL) at FS + 10% RDN through NU (55 mL) at PF. Growth and yield parameters were recorded and analysed statistically. The results showed that T5 recorded the highest plant height, dry matter production (5,887 kg/ha), number of pods per plant, pod yield (2,386 kg/ha), and nitrogen use efficiency (80%). This treatment also produced the highest net income (Rs. 92,754/ha) and benefit-cost ratio (2.49). Shelling percentage did not differ significantly among treatments. Under the tested conditions, splitting foliar nano urea between flowering and peg formation performed better than applying the entire foliar quantity at either stage alone.