Effect of foliar application of major plant nutrients on yield and economics of rabi sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.)

A field experiment entitled “Effect of foliar application of major plant nutrients on growth of rabi sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.)” was conducted during the rabi season of 2023-24 at the experimental farm of Sorghum Research Station, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani, with a view to find out the effect of foliar application of major plant nutrients on growth and yield of rabi sorghum and work out the economics of different treatments. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with seven treatments in three replications each viz., T₁: RDF (40:20:20 NPK kg ha^-1), T₂: RDF + Nano urea @ 4 ml liter^-1 of water spray at panicle initiation stage, T_3: RDF + 2% spray of DAP at panicle initiation stage, T_4: RDF + 2% spray of KCL at panicle initiation stage, T_5:RDF + spray of nano urea @ 4 ml liter^-1 of water + 2% spray of DAP at panicle initiation stage, T₆: RDF + spray of nano urea @ 4 ml liter^-1 of water + 2% spray of KCL at panicle initiation stage and T_7: Control. The result of the experiment revealed that soil application of 40:20:20 NPK kg ha^-1 (RDF) + spray of nano urea @ 4 ml liter^-1 of water + 2% spray of DAP at panicle initiation stage (T₅) recorded significantly higher grain yield plant^-1 (28.94 g), number of grains earhead^-1 (1120), grain yield (2486 kg ha^-1), fodder yield (7052 kg ha^-1), biological yield (9538 kg ha^-1), gross monetary returns (114318` ha<sup>-1</sup>), net monetary returns (78989` ha^-1) and B:C ratio (3.24 ` ha^-1), however, it was comparable with RDF + spray of nano urea @ 4 ml liter^-1 of water at panicle initiation stage + 2% spray of KCL at panicle initiation stage (T₆), RDF + 2% spray of DAP at panicle initiation stage (T₃) and RDF + 2% spray of KCL at panicle initiation stage (T₄). Test weight (g) and harvest index of Rabi sorghum were not influenced by foliar application of major nutrients.