Influence of briquettes and nano urea formulations on growth, yield and physiological growth indices of sweet corn (Zea mays saccharata L.)

The field experiment was carried out to study the influence of briquettes and nano urea formulations on growth, yield and physiological growth indices of sweet corn (Zea mays saccharata L.) during rabi, 2023-24 at Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Dapoli, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design comprising of eleven treatments replicated thrice on sweet corn var. Sweet-70. The experimental results indicated a significant impact of chitosan fortified briquettes and nano urea formulations on growth and yield of sweet corn. The result of experiment indicated that significantly higher plant height, dry matter production plant^-1, leaf area plant^-1 was observed periodically i.e. 30, 60 DAS and at harvest with application of 75% RDF through chitosan fortified briquette (CFB) + Foliar application of synthesized nano urea conjugate @ 30 ppm (T₉). Significantly higher green cob yield (219.72 q ha^-1), green stover yield (255.64 q ha^-1) and total biomass yield (475.36 q ha^-1) was observed with 75% RDF (CFB) + foliar application of synthesized nano urea conjugate @ 30 ppm (T₉). Plant growth indices like Absolute growth rate (AGR), Crop growth rate (CGR), Relative growth rate (RGR), Net assimilation rate (NAR), Leaf area ratio (LAR) and Leaf area index (LAI) were estimated periodically. AGR (cm day^-1) for plant height of sweet corn was numerically higher at 60 DAS to at harvest stage in treatment 75% RDF (CFB) + Foliar application of synthesized Nano urea conjugate @ 90 ppm (T₁₁). AGR (g day^-1) for dry matter production was numerically higher at 30 to 60 DAS in treatment 75% RDF (CFB) + Foliar application of synthesized nano urea conjugate @ 30 ppm (T₉). CGR (g m^-2 day^-1) for dry matter production was numerically higher at 30 to 60 DAS in treatment 75% RDF (CFB) + Foliar application of synthesized nano urea conjugate @ 30 ppm (T₉). RGR (g g-1 day-1) for dry matter production was numerically higher at 30 to 60 DAS in treatment 100% (T₂). NAR (g m-2 day^-1) for dry matter production was numerically higher at 30 to 60 DAS in treatment control (T₁). LAR (cm2 g^-1) was numerically higher at 30 to 60 DAS in treatment 75% RDF (CFB) + Foliar application of synthesized Nano urea @ 60 ppm (T₇). LAI was numerically higher at 60 DAS to harvest stage in treatment 75% RDF (CFB) + Foliar application of synthesized nano urea conjugate @ 30 ppm (T₉).