Microsoft Word - 10. BAJ-477E Bangladesh Agron. J. 2024, 26(2): 77-85 FOLIAR FERTILIZATION ON BRRI dhan28 TO REDUCE SOIL APPLICATION OF NITROGENOUS FERTILIZER M.A.J. Mohona, M.A. Hasan, A.K.M.M.B. Chowdhury, M.H.R. Hafiz, M.R. Islam and S. Sharmin* Department of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur- 5200, Bangladesh *Corresponding author: Email: seulisharminhstu@gmail.com (Received: 9 May 2024, Accepted: 24 June 2024) Keywords: Foliar fertilization, BRRI dhan28, nitrogen fertilizer, yield Abstract The experiment was conducted at the research farm of Crop Physiology and Ecology Department, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU), Dinajpur during November 2019 to June 2020 to find out the effect of foliar fertilization on the performance of rice var. BRRI dhan28 and to estimate how much nitrogenous fertilizer can be saved by foliar fertilization without yield reduction. The experiment was laid out following split plot design with three replications. Four levels of foliar fertilization (F0 – No foliar fertilization, F1 – Foliar fertilization with 2% KNO3, F2 - Foliar fertilization with 2% DAP and F3 - Foliar fertilization with 1% American NPKS) were placed in the main plot treatments whereas three nitrogen fertilizer levels (N50 -50% of the recommended nitrogen fertilizer, N75 – 75% of the recommended nitrogen fertilizer and N100 – 100% of the recommended nitrogen fertilizer) were placed randomly in the sub-plots. Foliar fertilization with KNO3, DAP (Di-ammonium phosphate) and American NPKS significantly increased the grain yield (t ha−1) compare to control (F0) but KNO3 and American NPKS performed better than DAP. Foliar fertilization with KNO3 and American NPKS could save 25% of recommended nitrogen fertilizer but foliar fertilization with DAP could not save nitrogen fertilizer applied in soil for getting comparable grain yield found in F0N100. Foliar fertilization of KNO3 and American NPKS with recommended nitrogen fertilizer applied in soil could increase 11.8 and 12.5% grain yield, respectively compare to F0N100. Introduction Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most important crops in Bangladesh in terms of acreage and production but the average grain yield is very low (2 t ha−1) as compared to Egypt (8.4 t ha−1) and USA (6.6 t ha−1). There are many reasons for lower yield of rice and among these the most important is the indiscriminate and improper application of nutrients with unfavorable condition. Many factors determine the fertilizer efficiency for rice crop during cultivation such as soil, cultivar, season, environment, planting time, water management, weed control, time and methods of fertilizer application (De Datta, 1978). Nutrient management practices determine the sustainability of the most intensively cropping systems (Flinn et al., 1982). Foliar application is well recognized and is being practiced in agriculturally advanced countries. In many cases aerial spray of nutrients is preferred and gives quicker and better results than the soil application (Jamal et al., 2006). Fageria et al. (2009) also reported that crops respond to soil applied fertilizers in five to six days, while the response is faster (48 hours) in foliar application. Foliar application increase nutrients uptake at critical growth stages and resulted in enhanced physiological activity leading to increase yield (Kundu and Sarkar, 2009). Foliar fertilization has great advantage because of low application rates, uniform distribution of fertilizer, reduction in plant stress, plant's natural defense mechanisms to resist plant disease and insect infestations, improvement of plant health and yield (Finck, 1982). Ali et al. (2005) reported that foliar spray increased the metabolic activity of plant. Nitrogen fertilizer is more urgent for security rice production. Sharief et al. (2006) found that increasing nitrogen fertilizer levels had significant effect on yield and yield attributes of rice. Hasewaga et al. (2000) reported that foliar fertilizers have significant influences of growth and rice paddy yield. Ahamad and Jabeen (2005) indicated that foliar nutrition 78 Mohona et al. generally increases the grain yield as well as decreases the amount of fertilizers which applied as soil application. Pramanik et al. (2015) showed that foliar application of fertilizer can increase rice growth and decrease the chemical fertilizer usage. Alam et al. (2010) opined that foliar application could be considered only as a supplement to soil application of N. However, foliar fertilization is supplementary to and cannot replace the basal fertilization. Keeping in view the study was therefore designed to find out the effect of foliar fertilization on the performance of BRRI dhan28 and to estimate how much nitrogenous fertilizer can be saved by foliar fertilization without yield reduction. Materials and Methods The experiment was set up at the research farm of Crop Physiology and Ecology Department, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU), Dinajpur during November 2019 to June 2020. The experimental field was a medium high land belonging to the non-calcareous dark gray floodplain soil under the agro-ecological zone (AEZ-1) of old Himalayan Piedmont Plain. The soil is sandy loam under the Order Inceptisol. The initial soil contained 1.28% organic matter, 0.064% Nitrogen, 18.56 µg /g Phosphorous and 0.18 me / 100g Potassium. The experimental site is situated in the sub-tropical region characterized by heavy rainfall during the months from May to September and scantly rainfall in the rest of the year. The experiment was conducted in a split plot design with three replications. Four levels of foliar fertilization viz. F0 – N0 foliar fertilization, F1– Foliar fertilization with 2% KNO3, F2 – Foliar fertilization with 2% DAP and F3- Foliar fertilization with 1% American NPKS were placed in the main plot treatments whereas three nitrogen fertilizer levels viz. N50 – 50% of the recommended nitrogen fertilizer, N75 – 75% of the recommended nitrogen fertilizer and N100 – 100% of the recommended nitrogen fertilizer were placed randomly in the sub plots as sub plot treatments. Rice var. BRRI dhan28 was used. Seedbed was prepared and seeds were sown uniformly on 1 December 2019 to obtain 34 days old seedling at transplanting date 3 January, 2020. After land preparation, cow dung and full doses of TSP, MOP, gypsum, and zinc sulphate were incorporated thoroughly into the soil as basal dose. Urea was splited into equal amount in three times i.e. basal application during land preparation, rapid tillering and before panicle initiation. Fertilizer was applied at a recommended rate of 300–100–160– 111.2–5.58 Kg ha−1 as urea, triple supper phosphate (TSP), muriate of potash (MOP), gypsum, and zinc sulphate (BARC, 2018). Thirty-four days old seedlings were carefully uprooted from a seedling nursery and planted on well puddle unit plots. Three healthy seedlings were transplanted in each hill. Intensive cares were taken during the growing period to ensure adequate growth and development of the crop. 2% KNO3, 2% Di-ammonium phosphate, and 1% American NPKS solution were prepared and applied in the respective plot for three times at 20 days interval starting from 40 days after transplanting. American NPKS is a foliar applied mixed fertilizer providing four major nutrient elements of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and sulphur with a grade mixing ratio of 8:20:14:5. American NPKS is also a complete fertilizer as it contains all three principal elements extremely essential for overall plants growth and development. USA company Stoller markets American NPKS fertilizer. Weeding, gap filling and other intercultural operations were done as when necessary. Data were collected on plant height in cm at 60 and 75 days after transplanting and also at harvest, tillers hill−1 at 60 and 75 days after transplanting and also at harvest, panicles hill−1, panicle length (cm), spikelets panicle−1, grains panicle−1, unfilled spikelet per panicle, 1000-grain weight, grain yield per hill, straw yield (g hill−1) and grain yield (t ha−1). The data were analyzed and means were separated by Tukey’s test by partitioning the total variance as described by Gomez and Gomez (1984). Results and Discussion Plant height and tillers hill−1 at different days after transplanting Plant height and number of tillers hill-1of BRRI dhan28 were not significantly influenced by foliar fertilization, nitrogen levels and their interaction effect at 60 days after transplanting (Table 1). Foliar fertilization on brri dhan28 to reduce application of nitrogenous fertilizer 79 Table 1. Effect of foliar fertilization and nitrogen levels on plant height and tillers hill−1 of BRRI dhan28 at different days after transplanting (DAT) Treatment Plant height (cm) Tillers hill−1 At 60 DAT At 75 DAT At 60 DAT At 75 DAT Foliar fertilization F0 49.52 63.37 13.67 17.07 F1 48.07 64.22 12.52 17.41 F2 48.89 63.25 13.70 16.70 F3 46.89 63.67 11.96 16.45 Significance level NS NS NS NS CV (%) 12.17 5.82 25.70 9.74 Nitrogen levels N50 47.17 61.25 b 12.14 15.36 b N75 49.58 64.19 ab 13.28 17.31 a N100 48.28 65.44 a 13.47 18.06 a Significance level NS * NS ** CV (%) 6.01 5.67 17.03 8.33 Foliar fertilization × Nitrogen levels F0N50 50.22 63.67 11.67 16.78 ab F0N75 50.55 64.33 15.11 18.33 ab F0N100 47.78 62.11 14.22 16.11ab F1N50 45.33 62.89 11.89 13.67 b F1N75 50.22 65.78 13.34 19.89 a F1N100 48.67 64.00 12.33 18.67 a F2N50 46.89 59.66 13.00 15.56 ab F2N75 50.22 63.55 13.67 15.56 ab F2N100 49.56 66.55 14.44 19.00 a F3N50 46.28 58.78 12.00 15.45 ab F3N75 47.33 63.11 11.00 15.45 ab F3N100 47.11 69.11 12.89 18.44 ab Significance level NS NS NS ** CV (%) 6.01 5.67 17.03 8.33 In a column, means followed by different letter(s) within main and interaction effect differed significantly at p ≤ 5% level of probability by Tukey’s test Here, F0 = No foliar fertilization, F1 = Foliar fertilization with KNO3, F2 = Foliar fertilization with DAP, F3 = Foliar fertilization with American NPKS, N50 = 50% of the recommended nitrogen fertilizer, N75 = 75% of the recommended nitrogen fertilizer, N100 = 100% of the recommended nitrogen fertilizer, NS indicates insignificant, ** indicates significant at 1% level of probability At 75 days after transplanting, number of tillers hill-1 of BRRI dhan28 was significantly influenced by nitrogen levels and the interaction effect of foliar fertilization and nitrogen levels but foliar fertilization had no significant influence on number of tillers hill−1 (Table 1). At 75 days after transplanting, the maximum number of tillers hill−1 (18.06) was recorded from N100 which was statistically similar to N75 (17.31). The lowest tillers hill−1 (15.36) was obtained from N50. Among the treatment combinations, the maximum number of tillers hill−1 was obtained from F1N75 (19.89) which was statistically similar to those recorded from all other treatment combinations except F1N50 which provided the lowest number of tillers hill−1 (13.67). The results of the present study were also supported by the findings of Swaroopa and Lakshmi (2015), Shafiee et al. (2013) and Shayganya et al. (2011). Plant height and tillers hill-1 at harvest Plant height of BRRI dhan28 at harvest was significantly influenced by foliar fertilization, nitrogen levels and their interaction effect of foliar fertilization and nitrogen levels (Table 2). Among the treatment combinations, the maximum plant height was obtained from F3N100 (96.17 cm) which was statistically similar to F3N75. While F0N50 treatment combination provided the lowest plant height (85.50 cm). Foliar fertilization with KNO3 could not save soil application of nitrogen fertilizer for getting comparable plant height found in F0N100. This is in line with the findings of Mohan et al. (2017), Pramanik et al. (2015) and Rabin et al. (2016). 80 Mohona et al. The number of tillers hill-1 was influenced significantly by nitrogen levels and the interaction effect of foliar fertilization and nitrogen levels but it was not influenced significantly by foliar fertilization (Table 2). Among the treatment combinations, the maximum number of tillers hill-1 was recorded in F2N100 (15.60) followed by F3N100 (15.60) which was statistically similar to all other treatment combinations except F0N50 (12.00) and F2N50 (12.13). Foliar fertilization with KNO3 and American NPKS could save 50% of recommended nitrogen fertilizer and foliar fertilization with DAP could save 25% of recommended nitrogen fertilizer applied in soil for getting comparable number of tillers hill-1 was found in F0N100. The result in tiller production is with line as reported by Swaroopa and Lakshmi (2015), Pramanik et al. (2015) and Rabin et al. (2016). Table 2. Effect of foliar fertilization and nitrogen levels on plant height and tillers hill-1 of BRRI dhan28 at harvest Foliar fertilization Plant height (cm) Tillers hill-1 Nitrogen levels Mean of foliar fertilization Nitrogen levels Mean of foliar fertilization N50 N75 N100 N50 N75 N100 F0 85.50 f 89.10 de 92.03 b 88.89 c 12.00 b 13.20 ab 13.93 ab 13.04 F1 87.60 e 90.00 cd 91.50 bc 89.70 c 13.27 ab 13.33 ab 15.60 a 14.07 F2 88.10 de 92.60 b 93.03 b 91.24 b 12.13 b 15.40 a 15.60 a 14.38 F3 89.32 de 95.50 a 96.17 a 93.66 a 14.33 ab 14.53 ab 15.53 a 14.80 Mean of nitrogen levels 87.63 c 91.81 b 93.18 a 12.93 c 14.12 b 15.17 a CV (%) 5.72 5.56 Level of significance ** * Means followed by different capital letter(s) for main effect and small letter (s) for interaction differed significantly at p ≤ 5% level of probability by Tukey’s test CV for foliar fertilization (plant height and tillers hill−1) = 5.55% and 8.40% CV for nitrogen levels (plant height and tillers hill−1) = 5.72% and 5.56% Number of panicles and Panicle length Number of panicles hill−1 of BRRI dhan28 was significantly influenced by foliar fertilization, nitrogen levels and their combination effect of foliar fertilization and nitrogen levels (Table 3). Panicle length (cm) of BRRI dhan28 was not significantly influenced by foliar fertilization, nitrogen levels and their combination effect of foliar fertilization and nitrogen levels (Table 3). Among the treatment combinations, the highest number of panicles hill−1 was obtained from F1N100 (14.40) which was statistically similar to those recorded from F3N100 (14.07), F3N75 (13.60), F2N100 (13.53) and F1N75 (13.47). The lowest number of panicles hill−1 was obtained from F0N50 (9.60) which was statistically at par with F2N50 (10.20). Foliar fertilization with KNO3 could save 50% of recommended nitrogen fertilizer and foliar fertilization with DAP and American NPKS could save 25% of recommended nitrogen fertilizer applied in soil for getting equivalent number of panicles hill-1 found in F0N100. These results are in agreement with the findings of Jothi et al. (2019) and Rani et al. (2014). Table 3. Effect of foliar fertilization and nitrogen levels on panicles hill−1 and panicle length of BRRI dhan28 Foliar fertilization Panicles hill−1 Panicle length (cm) Nitrogen levels Mean of foliar fertilization Nitrogen levels Mean of foliar fertilization N50 N75 N100 N50 N75 N100 F0 9.60 e 11.60 cd 13.20 ab 11.47 b 20.12 22.00 21.57 21.23 F1 12.53 bc 13.47 ab 14.40 a 13.47 a 20.30 22.13 21.67 21.28 F2 10.20 de 12.20 bc 13.53 ab 11.98 b 22.10 20.58 21.67 21.45 F3 11.33 cd 13.60 ab 14.07 a 13.00 a 22.00 22.10 21.60 21.90 Mean of 10.92 c 12.72 b 13.80 a 21.07 21.70 21.63 Foliar fertilization on brri dhan28 to reduce application of nitrogenous fertilizer 81 nitrogen levels CV (%) 3.24 7.94 Level of significance ** NS Means followed by different capital letter(s) for main effect and small letter (s) for interaction differed significantly at p ≤ 5% level of probability by Tukey’s test CV for foliar fertilization (Panicles hill−1 and Panicle length) = 3.62% and 3.62% CV for nitrogen levels (Panicles hill−1 and Panicle length) = 3.24% and 7.94% Spikelets panicle−1 and grains panicle−1 Foliar fertilization, nitrogen levels and their interaction had significant influence on number of spikelets panicle−1 and number of grains panicle−1of BRRI dhan28 (Table 4). Table 4. Effect of foliar fertilization and nitrogen levels on spikelets panicle−1 and grains−1 panicle of BRRI dhan28 Foliar fertilization Spikelets panicle−1 Grains panicle−1 Nitrogen levels Mean of foliar fertilization Nitrogen levels Mean of foliar fertilization N50 N75 N100 N50 N75 N100 F0 110 f 141 e 165 a-d 139 C 76 g 102 ef 129 c 102 c F1 158 b-e 166 a-d 176 ab 166 A 114 d 129 c 143 ab 129 a F2 138 e 148 de 168 a-d 152 B 92 f 111 de 131 c 111 b F3 151 c-e 170 a-c 180 a 167 A 115 d 132 bc 144 a 130 a Mean of nitrogen levels 139 c 157 b 172 a 99 c 119 b 137 a CV (%) 4.53 2.74 Level of significance * ** Means followed by different capital letter(s) for main effect and small letter (s) for interaction differed significantly at p ≤ 5% level of probability by Tukey’s test CV for foliar fertilization (Spikelets panicle−1 and Grains panicle−1) = 4.68% and 2.85% CV for nitrogen levels (Spikelets panicle−1 and Grains panicle−1) = 4.53% and 2.74% Among the treatment combinations, the maximum number of spikelets panicle−1 (180) was recorded in F3N100 which was statistically similar to F1N100 (176), F3N75 (170), F2N100 (168), F1N75 (166), F0N100 (165). The lowest number of spikelets panicle−1 was obtained from F0N50 (110) which was followed by F2N50 (138) and F0N75 (141). Foliar fertilization with KNO3 and American NPKS could save 50% of recommended nitrogen fertilizer and foliar fertilization with DAP could save 25% of recommended nitrogen fertilizer applied in soil for getting statistically similar number of spikelets panicle−1 found in F0N100. Similar trend has been reported by Jagathjothi et al. (2012), Manik et al. (2016) and Hasan et al. (2020). Among the treatment combinations, the maximum number of grains panicle−1 (144) was recorded in F3N100 which was statistically similar to F1N100 (143). The lowest number of grains panicle−1 was obtained from F0N50 (76) which was followed by F2N50 (92), F0N75 (102), F2N75 (111), F1N50 (1114) and F3N50 (115). Foliar fertilization with KNO3 and American NPKS could save 25% of recommended nitrogen fertilizer but foliar fertilization with DAP could not save nitrogen fertilizer applied in soil for getting comparable number of grains panicle−1 found in F0N100. Similar trend has been reported by Saleem et al. (2013) and Khan et al. (2009). Unfilled spikelets panicle−1 and thousand grain weight Unfilled spikelets panicle−1 and thousand grain weight were not influenced significantly by foliar fertilization, nitrogen levels and the combined effect of foliar fertilization and nitrogen levels (Table 5). 82 Mohona et al. Table 5. Effect of foliar fertilization and nitrogen levels on unfilled spikelets panicle−1 and thousand grains weight of BRRI dhan28 Treatment Unfilled spikelet panicle−1 1000 grains weight (g) Foliar fertilization F0 36.58 22.65 F1 37.69 22.30 F2 40.23 23.06 F3 36.54 22.14 Significance level NS NS CV (%) 14.51 5.28 Nitrogen levels N50 39.80 22.65 N75 38.02 22.67 N100 35.40 22.94 Significance level NS NS CV (%) 18.21 4.14 Foliar fertilization × Nitrogen levels F0N50 34.06 22.57 F0N75 39.07 22.72 F0N100 36.60 22.47 F1N50 43.07 22.63 F1N75 37.54 22.51 F1N100 32.47 21.77 F2N50 46.73 22.41 F2N75 37.33 23.31 F2N100 36.63 23.47 F3N50 35.34 22.81 F3N75 38.14 22.15 F3N100 36.13 21.47 Significance level NS NS CV (%) 18.21 4.14 In a column, means followed by different letter(s) within main and interaction effect differ significantly at p ≤ 5% level of probability Grain yield hill−1 Grain yield hill−1 was influenced significantly by foliar fertilization, nitrogen levels and the combined effect of foliar fertilization and nitrogen levels (Table 6). Among the treatment combinations, the maximum grain yield hill−1 was recorded in F3N100 (33.75 g) which was statistically similar to F1N100 (33.16 g) followed by F3N75, (31.15 g), F2N100 (30.89 g), F0N100 (30.13 g), and F1N75 (30.00 g). The lowest grain yield hill−1 was obtained from F0N50 (18.09 g) which was followed by F1N50 (20.90 g) and F2N50 (21.60 g). Foliar fertilization with KNO3 and American NPKS could save 25% of recommended nitrogen fertilizer but foliar fertilization with DAP could not save nitrogen fertilizer applied in soil for getting equivalent number of grain yield hill−1 found in F0N100. Similar results were also observed by Pramanik et al. (2015) and Rabin et al. (2016). Table 6. Effect of foliar fertilization and nitrogen levels on grain yield hill−1 of BRRI dhan28 Foliar fertilization Grain yield hill−1 (g) Nitrogen levels Mean of foliar fertilization N50 N75 N100 F0 18.09 f 24.80 d 30.13 b 24.34 d F1 20.90 e 30.00 b 33.16 a 28.02 b F2 21.60 e 26.16 cd 30.89 b 26.22 c F3 27.50 c 31.15 b 33.75 a 30.80 a Mean of nitrogen levels 22.02 c 28.03 b 31.98 a CV (%) 2.42 Level of significance ** Foliar fertilization on brri dhan28 to reduce application of nitrogenous fertilizer 83 Means followed by different capital letter(s) for main effect and small letter (s) for interaction differed significantly at p ≤ 5% level of probability by Tukey’s test CV for foliar fertilization and nitrogen levels= 1.83% and 2.42% Straw yield hill−1 Straw yield hill−1 of BRRI dhan28 was not influenced significantly by foliar fertilization and the interaction effect of foliar fertilization and nitrogen levels but it was influenced significantly by nitrogen levels (Fig. 1). Fig. 1 shows that straw yield (g hill−1) was increased gradually with the increment of nitrogen level. The highest straw yield (25.33 g hill−1) was obtained when recommended nitrogen fertilizer was applied as urea (N100) which was statistically equal to that recorded in N75 (23.80 g hill−1). The lowest straw yield (19.15 g hill−1) was recorded in N50. Saleem et al. (2013), Pramanik et al. (2015) and Rabin et al. (2016) also reported increase in nitrogen levels caused significant increase in straw yield in rice. Similar trend has been reported by Fageria et al. (2009), Jagathjothi et al. (2012) and Surya (2015). Fig.1. Effect of nitrogen levels (N50 = 50% of the recommended nitrogen fertilizer, N75 = 75% of the recommended nitrogen fertilizer and N100 = 100% of the recommended nitrogen fertilizer) on straw yield of BRRI dhan28. Grain yield Grain yield (t ha−1) was influenced significantly by foliar fertilization, nitrogen levels and the combined effect of foliar fertilization and nitrogen levels (Table 7). Among the treatment combinations, the maximum grain yield (t ha−1) was recorded in F3N100 (7.63 t ha−1) which was statistically similar to F1N100 (7.58 t ha−1) followed by F3N75, (7.00 t ha−1), F2N100 (6.95 t ha−1), F0N100 (6.78 t ha−1), and F1N75 (6.82 t ha−1). The lowest grain yield was obtained from F0N50 (4.07 t ha−1) which was followed by F2N50 (4.87 t ha−1) and F0N750 (5.42 t ha−1). Foliar fertilization with KNO3 and American NPKS could save 25% of recommended nitrogen fertilizer but foliar fertilization with DAP could not save nitrogen fertilizer applied in soil for getting comparable grain yield found in F0N100. Foliar fertilization of KNO3 and American NPKS with recommended nitrogen fertilizer applied in soil could increase 11.8 and 12.5% grain yield, respectively compare to F0N100. Similar trend has been reported by Hasan et al. (2020), Jothi et al. (2019), Manik et al. (2016), Pramanik et al. (2015) and Saleem et al. (2013). Table 7. Effect of foliar fertilization and nitrogen levels on grain yield of BRRI dhan28 Foliar fertilization Grain yield (t ha−1) Nitrogen levels Mean of foliar fertilization N50 N75 N100 F0 4.07 f (- 40.0) 5.42 de (- 20.1) 6.78 c (0.0) 5.42 c F1 6.06 d (- 10.6) 6.82 c (+ 0.5) 7.58 ab (+ 11.8) 6.82 a F2 4.87 e (- 28.2) 5.91 d (- 12.8) 6.95 bc (+ 2.5) 5.91 b F3 5.67 d 7.00 bc 7.63 a 6.77 a 19.15 b 23.80 ab 25.33 a 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 N50 N75 N100 St ra w y ile d ( g h ill− 1 ) Nitrogen levels 84 Mohona et al. (- 16.4) (+ 3.2) (+ 12.5) Mean of nitrogen levels 5.17 c 6.29 b 7.24 a CV (%) 3.03 Level of significance ** Means followed by different capital letter(s) for main effect and small letter (s) for interaction differed significantly at p ≤ 5% level of probability by Tukey’s test, Values in parenthesis indicates percent change over F0N100 Conclusion Foliar fertilization with KNO3, DAP (Di-ammonium phosphate) and American NPKS significantly increased the grain yield (t ha−1) compare to control (F0) but KNO3 and American NPKS performed better than DAP. Foliar fertilization with KNO3 and American NPKS could save 25% of recommended nitrogen fertilizer but foliar fertilization with DAP could not save nitrogen fertilizer applied in soil for getting comparable grain yield found in F0N100. Foliar fertilization of KNO3 and American NPKS with recommended nitrogen fertilizer applied in soil could increase 11.8% and 12.5% grain yield, respectively compare to F0N100. References Ahmad, R. and R. 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