Nano-Urea to Complement Growth, Yield and Economics of Brinjal under Eastern Dry Zone of Karnataka

Abstract

The available nitrogen status of soils in Eastern dry zone of Karnataka is low because of semi-arid climate having higher temperature that results in more volatilization loss of applied conventional nitrogenous fertilizers. In order to enhance the N use efficiency of applied conventional nitrogenous fertilizers and to reduce the cost of cultivation, the present investigation was under taken to study the effect of nitrogen levels and frequencies of nano-urea application on performance of brinjal at College of Horticulture, Kolar during Rabi season of 2022 – 23. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with eleven treatments and three replications. The results obtained indicated that the soil application of recommended doses of FYM, P and K along with 75 per cent RDN through neem coated urea in two split doses (50% as basal dose and 25% at 42 DAT) plus two sprays of nano-urea at 28 and 70 DAT had produced maximum plant height, number of branches per plant and dry matter yield. This treatment also resulted in better yield attributes such as more number of fruits per cluster (2.22), number of fruits per plant (31.10), average fruit length (13.36 cm), fruit yield of 1.18 kg plant-1, 32.98 kg plot-1 and 16.36 t ha-1 besides, realizing the highest net returns (Rs.2,63,953 ha-1) with highest benefit cost ratio (2.35). The results suggest that the treatment involving soil application of recommended doses of FYM, P and K along with 75 per cent RDN through neem coated urea in two split doses (50% as basal dose and 25% at 42 DAT) plus two sprays of nano-urea at 28 and 70 DAT provided better growth, yield and highest benefit cost ratio, indicating a profitable economic returns on investment.