Effect of neem cake manure and foliar application of nano-urea on growth and yield of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.)

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2023 at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy. The soil of experimental plot was sandy loam in texture, low in organic carbon (0.372%), neutral in soil pH (7.5), Nitrogen (167.40 kg/ha), Phosphorous (19.40 kg/ha) and Potassium (223.80 kg/ha). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with 9 treatments and replicated thrice. The treatments consisted 4 levels of Neem cake manure (No manure, 50% RDN through NCM, 75% RDN through NCM and 100% RDN through NCM) and foliar spary of Nano Urea at different intervals i.e. (One spray of nano-N (4ml/1L water) at 30DAS and two sprays of nano-N (4ml/1L water) at 30 and 45DAS). The results revealed that the application of 100% RDN through NCM + nano-N (4ml/1L water) at 30 and 45DAS, recorded significantly higher Plant height (140.05 cm), Dry weight (72.65 g). Significantly maximum grains/ear head (1298.67), Grain yield (2.94 t/ha), Stover yield (4.18 t/ha), Higher gross returns (Rs. 114548.00 /ha), net return (Rs. 64138.00 /ha) were recorded with the treatment of 100% RDN through NCM + nano-N (4ml/1L water) at 30 and 45DAS. and benefit cost ratio (1.56) was obtained in the treatment of 50% RDN through NCM + nano-N (4ml/1L water) at 30DAS.