Evaluation of the Effect of Foliar Nano Nitrogen and Zinc on Chlorophyll (SPAD) and Qualitative Traits of Green Chilli in Comparison with Urea and ZnSO4

Abstract

The faulty and imbalanced application of fertilizers to chilli threatens the environment and affects the country's sustainable food and nutritional security. Variation in the method and quantity of N and Zn fertilizer application has a higher impact on the chilli production and quality. An experiment was carried out at AHRS, Bavikere, KSNUAHS, Shivamogga, to study the effect of foliar nano nitrogen and zinc application on green chilli's growth, yield and quality. There were eight treatments which replicated three times using the RCBD design. Treatment combinations of foliar nano nitrogen and zinc and foliar urea and ZnSO4 with different levels of RDN (75%, 100%, 125%) were tested against control (100% RDF). The results revealed that chilli quality parameters significantly varied with applying nano N and Zn compared to the control. Among the treatments, application of RDN (125%) and foliar nano N (0.4%) and Zn (0.4%) at 30 and 45 DAT registered significantly higher chlorophyll, oleoresin, ascorbic acid and TSS. T3 reported significantly superior ascorbic acid and oleoresin content to 14.94 per cent and 22.10 per cent over control.