Impact of Nano Urea on Quality, Plant and Soil Nutrients Status of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum Br.) under Precision Nitrogen Management

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the summer seasons of 2022 and 2023 at the Pearl Millet Research Station, Junagadh Agricultural University, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India, to assess the influence of nano urea on the quality parameters, nutrient uptake, and soil nutrient status of pearl millet under precision nitrogen management. The study was arranged in a randomized block design consisting of ten treatment combinations with three replications, and the experiment was carried out on medium black calcareous soil. The findings revealed that the treatment receiving 40 kg as basal, 40 kg N through urea at 25–30 DAS, and 2 foliar sprays of nano urea (0.4%) when the LCC value was ≤ 4 resulted in the highest nitrogen and phosphorus contents in grain (1.650% and 0.342%) and fodder (0.730% and 0.178%), respectively. This treatment also showed superior nutrient uptake, with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium uptake by grain and fodder recorded at 77.36% and 63.28%, 16.07% and 15.47%, and 25.87% and 67.83%, respectively. Furthermore, it maintained higher available nitrogen in the soil after harvest (299.34 kg/ha) compared to other treatments.