Comparative Evaluation of Neem-coated Urea and Nano Urea on the Growth and Physiological Attributes of Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn)

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the effects of nitrogen fertilization on finger millet, with Significant nutrient losses, especially for nitrogen (N) fertilizers, occurring when chemical fertilizers are directly incorporated into the field. These losses primarily result from leaching and volatilization processes under this practice, crops tend to utilize only a fraction of the applied N fertilizers, typically ranging from 30 to 40%. These observations highlight the inefficiency of traditional fertilizer application methods and the need for improved nutrient management strategies to maximize nutrient utilization by crops and minimize environmental impacts. The study was conducted in Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences Coimbatore. The experiment was laid out in Randomized block design (RBD) with seven treatments and replicated three times. The results of the study demonstrated that the treatment combining 50% neem-coated urea (NCU) and 50% nano urea (NU) in addition to phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) (T5) exhibited exceptional performance compared to the other treatments. This particular treatment displayed significant outcomes, including an increase in plant height of (93.7cm), improved leaf area index (3.95), greater total dry matter production (6443 kg/ha), a higher number of tillers (161.24/m2), increased productive tillers (94.2/m2), enhanced grain yield (4350 kg/ha), higher straw yield (5829 kg/ha), improved gross returns (143313 Rs/ha), a net return of (Rs. 88,247/ha), and a benefit-cost ratio of 2.60. On the other hand, the application of (75% Neem coated urea + 25% Nano urea + P and K) can be considered as a second option for obtaining higher yield and economics of growing finger millet.

Residual Effect of Direct Seeded and Transplanted Rice, Nutritional Approaches and Slow Release Nitrogen Sources on the Growth Parameters of Blackgram Crop

A study was conducted on nutrient management approaches in rice-blackgram cropping system under different ecosystems. The growth parameters were recorded at 30 DAS, 60 DAS and at harvest of blackgram crop. The results indicated that the plant height and number of branches had increased linearly as the crop attained maturity. The three way interaction of ecosystem, nutritional approaches and N sources (M x N x S) had proved that significantly taller plants of blackgram were associated with the residual effect of transplanted soils which possessed neem coated urea based on SSNM for yield target of 7 t ha-1 (M2N4S2) at all stages of crop growth and number of branches at 60 DAS and at harvest.