Background: Rising demand for nutrient-rich fodder has highlighted the need for sustainable forage systems. In India, despite being the world&rsquo;s largest milk producer, fodder shortages, particularly a 61.1% deficit in green fodder, limit livestock productivity and milk yields. Maize (Zea mays L.) is a key fodder crop, but its yield and quality suffer due to nutrient deficiencies and inefficient fertilization. Conventional fertilizers contribute to nutrient loss and environmental issues, while Nano fertilizers offer better efficiency and forage quality. This study examines the effects of foliar-applied Nano Urea Plus and Nano ZnO on fodder maize to support sustainable livestock production. 
 
Methods: The experiment was conducted during Kharif season of 2023-24, 2024-25 at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University; Coimbatore followed a randomized block design. The fodder maize crop was treated with three levels of Nano Urea (0.5%,0.75% and 1%) and two levels of Nano ZnO (50 ppm and 100 ppm), along with the recommended dose of fertilizers and an absolute control, resulting in nine unique treatment combinations. 
 
Result: The study revealed that the combined application of 1% Nano Urea Plus and 100 ppm Nano ZnO along with the recommended dose of fertilizers significantly improved plant height (297.25 cm), the number of leaves (13.78), green fodder yield (437.04 q ha-1) and dry fodder yield (101.70 q ha-1) compared to absolute control. This treatment also enhanced forage quality by increasing crude protein content (9.70%), ether extract (2.56%) and total ash (9.19%), while reducing fibre fractions like neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fibre, acid detergent lignin. 
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Enhancing Animal Nutritional Security Through Biofortification of Fodder Maize using Nano Urea Plus and Nano Zinc Oxide

Background: Acid lime being the nutrient exhaustive fruit crop and requires regular annual application of macro and micronutrients and there was a need to study the response of foliar application of Urea and Nano urea as a source of nitrogen to assess its impact on Kagzi lime trees. The reason to undertake this research was based on response of foliar Urea and Nano urea on nutrient supplementation, rapid nutrient uptake, improved nitrogen utilization along with enhanced nutrient mobility and its effect on growth and yield attributes in acid lime cv. Kagzi plants. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted at the Fruit Instructional Farm, Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Jhalawar during June 2022 to December 2022 in established Kagzi lime orchard of 14 years age. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with three replications. The experiment consisted of foliar application of nine treatments comprising Urea and Nano urea. 
 
Result: On the basis of results obtained in the present investigation, the foliar application of T4 treatment (Urea @ 2.0%) was found beneficial in the improvement of growth and yield attributes in acid lime cv. Kagzi. The foliar feeding response through T4 treatment (Urea @ 2.0%) resulted in enhancement of plant height (m), plant spread [E-W and N-S (m)], canopy volume (m3), number of fruits plant-1, yield plant-1 (kg) and estimated yield (kg/ha) in acid lime cv. Kagzi trees.The overall maximum percentage increase in growth attributes viz. plant height (6.46%), E-W plant spread (6.09%), N-S plant spread (6.27%) and canopy volume (20.34%) were found in T4 treatment consisting (Urea @ 2.0%). The application of T4 treatment (Urea @ 2%) resulted in enhancement of number of fruits plant-1 (480.33), fruit weight (67.90 g), yield plant-1 (27.87) and estimated yield (77.21 q/ha).

Foliar Impact of Urea and Nano Urea Application on Growth and Yield Attributes of Acid Lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle.) Cv. Kagzi

Background: In context of oilseeds like Sesamum nitrogen is an important major or primary nutrient which is essential specifically for plant height, dry matter accumulation plant-1, development of pod and seed. Deficiency of Nitrogen in sesame results in lower vegetative growth, yield and dry matter partitioning. Along with this it also increase the photosynthetic rate and total chlorophyll content and application of nitrogen fertilizers through nano urea increases nitrogen use efficiency. Nano Urea is low cost technology and required in small quantities. Nano urea produces less hazardous effect on environment. It will also help in decreasing the amount of greenhouse gasses production and their release into the atmosphere. Even though the several research works are already available on effect of foliar spray in Sesame, scope of spray nano urea with different nitrogen levels in Sesame enabled us to take up this experiment. 
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Methods: The present field experiment was carried out during Kharif season of 2022 at Agronomy Research Fields, School of Agriculture, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab. Nitrogen is applied to sesame through soil as mineral nitrogen and foliar spray. The data pertaining to growth characteristics, yield characteristics, gross monetary returns and net monetary returns of sesame (kharif) was collected at regular interval in 2022-23 which was analyzed statistically in SPD (Split Plot Design) with 12 treatment combinations replicated thrice. 
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Result: Significantly higher plant height (cm), no. of functional leaves plant-1, stem girth (cm) and dry matter accumulation (g plant -1) were registered with application F3&nbsp;-100% RDN through soil application of mineral nitrogen to sesame over rest of treatments&nbsp; at 40 DAS, 60 DAS, 80 DAS and at harvest. Among the foliar application of nano-urea to sesame, treatment F4- 25% N&nbsp; recorded significantly higher plant height (cm), no. of functional leaves plant-1, stem girth (cm) and dry matter accumulation (g plant -1) over lower levels of treatments and found at with treatment F3-20% N at 40 DAS, 60 DAS, 80 DAS and at harvest.However at harvest higher number of dry capsules plant-1, number of seeds capsules-1, seed yield (q ha-1), straw yield (q ha-1) and oil content (%) were obtained by F3&nbsp;-100% RDN through soil application of mineral nitrogen to sesame over all other treatments to sesame. Foliar application of&nbsp; F4&nbsp;- 25% N&nbsp; and&nbsp; F3- 20% N&nbsp; to Sesame both being at par with each other and&nbsp; registered&nbsp; significantly higher number of dry capsules plant-1, number of seeds capsules-1, seed yield (q ha-1), straw yield (q ha-1) and oil content (%) over remaining levels of foliar applications of nano urea.

Response of Soil Applied Urea and Foliar Applied Nano Urea on the Growth, Yield and Quality of Kharif&nbsp; Sesame (Sesamum indicum) under the Central Plain Agro-climatic Zone of Punjab

Background: There is no doubt that the enormous increase in global food production is a direct result of greater use of inorganic fertilizers. However, a number of research studies indicate that the rising use of conventional fertilizers has resulted in major environmental risks, including soil and water body contamination. Nanotechnology and nano-fertilizers have recently been used in agriculture to create healthier solutions. Therefore, there is a pressing need to improve the N availability for plants, while reducing its harmful effects to the soil and environment. 
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Methods: Keeping this point of view, the pot culture experiment was carried out to study the &ldquo;Impact of nano-urea (Liquid) on blackgram (VBN 8) (Vigna mungo L.) Productivity&rdquo; with an objective of study the influence of Nano-Urea on growth and yield attributes of Blackgram. The experiment was conducted at Vanavarayar Institute of Agriculture, Pollachi during the Kharif (June-September) season of 2022 and 2023. The treatment includes application of various level of nano urea (1.25 litres ha-1) as foliar spray and soil application along with recommended dose of P and K in comparison with RDF and control (without any nutrient). The treatments were replicated three times in a completely randomized block design. 
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Result: Among the different treatment combination, application of nano-urea (Liquid) 1.25 litres ha-1&nbsp;as Foliar Spray (FS) (IFFCO) + P and K RDF (T2) resulted in higher pod weight (4.1 and 6.2 g plant-1) and seed weight (3.2 and 3.6 g plant-1) in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Application of nano-urea (Liquid) 1.25 litres ha-1 as Foliar Spray (FS) + PandK RDF responded equally with RDF + Urea 1% foliar spray on better growth and development of blackgram. At the critical juncture, adequate nitrogen from nano-urea would have ensured a steady supply of nitrogen, stimulating meristematic activity and cell elongation in plants and improving the crop performance.

Influence of Nano Urea on Growth Yield and Nutrient Uptake of Blackgram

Background: With diminishing communal grazing lands, cost-effective protein supplementation for ruminant livestock is crucial. Utilizing nano-formed urea and a novel nano-formed nitrogen source, in conjunction with balanced energy sources, is anticipated to decrease the feeding costs for ruminant livestock. Nano-urea alone or with neem-coated urea supplementation may be used as good economic source of nitrogen, if found suitable. 
 
Methods: Two doses of Nano-urea (160 &micro;L Nu) and combined with neem-coated urea (160 &micro;L Nu+1% Ncu) were selected for lactation trial based upon in vitro rumen fermentation system. 
 
Result: Addition of Nano-urea and combination of Nano-urea and neem-coated urea enhanced voluntary intake of different nutrients and increased DCP value in crossbred dairy cows. TDN intake pattern was similar among all treatment groups. However, DCP intake was greater (p&lt;0.001) and&nbsp; increased blood urea nitrogen&nbsp; in T1 and T2 compared to T0 groups. However, Feeding nano-urea and combination of nano-urea + neem-coated urea marginally benefitted in terms of feeding economics for milk production. 
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Effect of Feeding Nano and Neem Coated Urea on Nutrient Intake, Digestibility and Blood Chemistry of Lactating Crossbred Cow

Background: Improved agronomic practices such as optimum nutrient management, helps to improve forage quality and yield of the legume crop. The present study was conducted to find out the efficacy of nano urea on the yield and proximate nutrient composition of hedge lucerne grown. Comparing nano urea along with urea top dressing. 
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Methods: The experiment was laid out in randomized block design, replicated six times. At 35 days after sowing, T1 (control) received 30 kg/ha of urea and treatment T2 received 4ml/lit of nano urea as top dressing respectively. Harvested leaf samples were analyzed separately for crude protein (CP), crude fibre (CF), total ash (TA), ether extract (EE) and nitrogen free extract (NFE). 
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Result: &nbsp;The results showed that Nano urea application 4ml/lit recorded higher plant height, biomass yield in three harvests. Further nano urea application improved the biomass yield of the crop compared to urea top dressing, but it was statistically on par with each other. The study also revealed that there is no significant difference between the nutritive values CP, CF, EE and NFE between the treatment (nano urea) and control. First three harvests in Desmanthus virgatus legume crop application of nano urea @ 4ml/lit as top dressing was onpar with that of urea top dressing in increasing the biomass yield. 
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Effect of&nbsp; Nano Urea on the Yield and Proximate Composition of&nbsp; Hedge Lucerne (Desmanthus virgatus ) - Promising Legume Fodder for Livestock in Tamil Nadu

<div>Background: Nano-emulsion formulation and ZnO-loaded nano-emulsion system was developed using the seed oil of Pongamia pinnata (L) to control the serious pest of cucurbit crops Aulocophora foveicollis Lucas. 
 
Methods: The formulations were prepared using high energy emulsification method (utrasonication) and were further characterized to determine the droplet size, polydispersity index, zeta potential using dynamic light scattering (DLS). Further, thermodynamic stress studies, viscosity, pH, UV- Visible spectroscopic analysis, TEM, ATR-FTIR analysis were carried out to evaluate the stability of nano-emulsion formulations. The efficacy of the prepared formulations is tested against the target pest (red pumpkin beetle) in vitro. 
 
Result: The results of characterization confirm the stability of nano-emulsion systems. The insecticidal efficacy of ZnO-loaded nano-emulsion system showed highest mortality (73.31%) and LC50&nbsp;value was found to be 11.24% v/v. These results suggests that the formulated nano-emulsion system from the seed oil of pongamia holds potential to reduce the reliance on synthetic pesticides and offer environmentally sustainable alternative for the control of the insect pest.</div>

In-vitro Assessment and Characterization of Pongamia Seed Oil-based Nano-Emulsion and ZnO Nano-formulations as Environmentally Sustainable Alternatives for the Control of Aulocophora foveicollis Lucas (Coleoptera-Chrysomelidae)

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: In the current global landscape, agriculture is heavily reliant on synthetic fertilisers, which places stress on the soil and plant environment. The greatest alternative is nano fertilisers. As a result, the following research was completed. 
Methods: In 2021, a pot experiment was conducted at Annamalai Nagar, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, to investigate the effects of conventional and nano fertilizer on maize growth and yield (Zea mays L.). To analyse maize crop development and yield qualities, the experiment was set up in a Completely randomized block design (CRBD) with two factors and ten treatments: Factor A nano zinc and zinc EDTA and Factor B combined application of nano nitrogen with conventional fertilizers.&nbsp; 
Result: In our investigation results was concluded that combined application 50% N through urea + 50% N through nano urea combined with nano Zn substantially increases plant height 195.80 cm, LAI 1.95, dry matter production 15013 kg ha-1, number of grains cob-1 496, garin yield 8926 kgs ha-1, stover yield 12094 kgs ha-1 and harvest index 42.46.</div>

Effects of Conventional and Nano Fertilizers on Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.)

<div style="text-align:justify">Neem coated urea not only increase crop yield but also lower input cost to the farmer. Cost of neem coated urea is only 3-4% higher than ordinary urea. Urea constitutes about 82% of the fertilizer nitrogen (N) used in India. Neem coated urea has been observed to improve nitrogen use efficiency and subsequently crop yield, especially in rice and wheat. Nitrification inhibitors when applied along with urea reduce losses of applied N thereby resulting in an improved yield of crops. In rice and wheat more than 50% of the urea consumed in India is applied, the mean increase in grain yield by replacing urea with NCU or NOCU is 5 to 6%. &nbsp;More than 75 studies have been conducted to compare the performance of urea coated with neem cake (NCU) or neem oil (NOCU) in increasing the yield of rice, wheat, and several other crops via uncoated urea. In 2015, the Government of India directed that all fertilizer urea manufactured in the country or imported will have to be coated with neem oil at the rate of 0.5 kg per tonne. This decision was motivated not only by the better performance of NOCU via uncoated urea but also by an expectation that it will lead to reduced consumption of urea. Increasing nitrogen efficiency means-reducing the nitrogen losses through leaching, immobilization and reducing groundwater pollution by nitrates as well as ammonia gas pollution in the air. It also reduces import of costly fertilizers as well as reduces ground, water, and soil pollution.</div>

Impact of neem coated urea on rice yield and nutrient use efficiency (NUE)

Background: Chickpea productivity in the last decade has been declined due to improper management of inorganic and organic nutrient sources and it has been contended that the usual native soil rhizobial populations are insufficient/ineffective in N2&nbsp;&ndash; fixation. Rhizobium based biofertilizers may substitute nitrogenous chemical fertilizers and provide a suitable way of achieving sustainable production. The effective use of exogeneous application of nano emulsion biofertilizer can enhance yield by reducing flower drop, regulating pod formation besides improving soil quality. In view of above consideration, the present investigation entitled &ldquo;Morphological and productivity response of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) to nano biofertilization&rdquo; was carried out. 
 
Methods: The field experiment was conducted on sandy clayey loam soil during two consecutive Rabi seasons of 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (Factor) with three replications, assigning 45 treatments consisting of five soil applications (100% RDF; 100% RDF + FYM; 100% RDF + Vermicompost; 75% RDF + FYM; and 75% RDF + Vermicompost) as first factor and three foliar applications (Nano DAP; Nano Urea and Nano emulsion biofertilizer) as second factor treatments. 
 
Result: Application of Nano emulsion biofertilizer to chickpea variety (NBeG-49) at harvest had shown significant higher plant height (35.03 cm), dry matter production (3251.43 kg ha-1), leaf area index (0.90), crop growth rate (1.59 gm-2&nbsp;day-1), relative growth rate (26.3 mg g-1&nbsp;day-1), chlorophyll (SPAD value) (58.22), number of pods/plant (24.93), seed yield (1111.60 kg ha-1), straw yield (2501.10 kg ha-1) and nitrogen uptake (70.56 kg ha-1), phosphorus uptake (203.21 kg ha-1) and potassium uptake (54.30 kg ha-1).