Comparative Performances of Nano-Urea and Conventional Urea on Maize Yield, GrainQuality, and Soil Health
Abstract
Nano-fertilizers enhance nutrient use efficiency, enabling sustainable and higher crop yields with reduced environmental impact through precision nutrient delivery. This study investigated the comparative performance of nano-urea powder (NUP) and commercial urea (CU) on maize (Zea mays L.) plants in terms of nutritional profile, growth dynamics, yield attributes, kernel quality, and post-harvest soil health. The application of NUP caused a modest reduction (p < 0.05) in vegetative traits, including plant height and leaf number. However, it significantly increased grain yield by 13.8% (p < 0.05), and improvements in cob morphology and grain development were observed. In addition, NUP enhanced nutrient partitioning by promoting a more balanced source–sink relationship and improved reproductive efficiency. Nutritional analyses revealed increased starch and antioxidant content in NUP application, although protein levels declined slightly. Soil analysis after 50 days indicated that NUP improved pH stability and phosphorus availability, lowering electrical conductivity and organic matter content, suggesting more efficient nutrient cycling and uptake. These advantages demonstrate that nano-urea can maintain productivity while reducing its environmental footprint, offering a promising strategy for sustainable fertilizer management in intensive agriculture compared with conventional urea use. J. Bangladesh Acad. Sci. 50(3); 523–535: September 2026