Synergistic Effect of Conventional and Nano Urea on Growth, Yield, and Economics of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in the Chitrakoot Region

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2024-25 at Nanaji Deshmukh Parisar Agriculture Farm, Chitrakoot, Satna (M.P.) to evaluate the effect of integrated nitrogen management using conventional urea and nano urea on barley (var. 'Devlaxmi'). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with nine treatments and three replications, combining three levels of conventional nitrogen (50 %, 75 %, and 100 % of the recommended 80 kg N ha⁻¹) with one, two, or three foliar sprays of nano urea (2 % conc.) at critical growth stages. The results demonstrated that treatment T₃ [100 % N + 3 nano urea sprays (Tillering + Jointing + Booting)] produced significantly superior growth (plant height: 85.20 cm, tillers: 7.2 at 90 DAS) and yield attributes (spikes: 6.9 plot⁻¹, grains spike⁻¹: 212.96, test weight: 44.26 g), culminating in the highest grain yield (50.17 q ha⁻¹). This treatment also registered the maximum net return (₹ 49,515 ha⁻¹) and benefit-cost ratio (2.14). The application of 75 % N with three nano urea sprays (T₆) resulted in a yield (47.31 q ha⁻¹) that was competitive, suggesting a potential for partial substitution of conventional urea. It is concluded that the foliar application of nano urea, particularly in three splits alongside the full recommended dose of conventional N, is a highly effective and economically viable strategy for enhancing barley productivity in the sandy loam soils of the Chitrakoot region.