Abstract

Globally, to meet the increased food demand due to the rapidly expanding population, overuse of nitrogen-based fertilizers is escalating. Unprecedented use of nitrogen besides polluting the environment, it brings about amplified susceptibility to biotic and abiotic stress. Maize is the predominant crop in rainfed regions of Southern Odisha. Hence, there is a need to optimize the use of nitrogen based fertilizers using nanotechnology. In this regard, the present investigation was set out in randomized block design with 11 treatments and three replications. The study revealed that adoption of 100% RDN + foliar spray of nano-urea @ 4ml/L, twice at knee stage and tasseling stage was superior in influencing morphology, yield attributes and yield of rabi maize. However, since adoption of 75% RDN + foliar spray of nano urea @ 4ml/L at knee stage and tasseling stage was significantly at par with 100% RDN this might be a most appropriate managerial alternative to achieve sustainability.