2024, Vol. 7, Issue 3, Part G

author(s)
PT Vidhu Priyadarsini, S Anitha, P Prameela, Syama S Menon, V Divya Vijayan and Rose Mary Francies

abstract
A research experiment was conducted at the Instructional Farm of the College of Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), Vellanikkara, Thrissur from October to December 2021. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of nano fertilizer and designer seeds on the growth and yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp). The experimental design employed was Completely Randomized Design (Factorial), comprising three replications. The experimental treatments encompassed application of various concentrations of nano NPK fertilizer at different rates (2/3, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4) of the recommended dose of NPK as per package of practices (POP) of KAU, NPK as per POP (20:30:10 kg/ha), and absolute control. Three levels of seed treatments were also applied; designer seeds, rhizobium treated seeds and untreated seeds. The findings of the study revealed that both nano fertilizers and designer seeds exerted a significant positive influence on the biometric and yield parameters of cowpea. Among the nano fertilizers, nano NPK (2/3) as per POP demonstrated the highest chlorophyll content at harvest (5.01 mg/g) compared to the absolute control (2.11 mg/g). Moreover, the synergistic application of nano NPK (2/3) as per POP in conjunction with designer seeds demonstrated remarkable efficacy, yielding the highest recorded grain yield at 838.47 kg/ha.