Enhancing Animal Nutritional Security Through Biofortification of Fodder Maize using Nano Urea Plus and Nano Zinc Oxide

Rising demand for nutrient-rich fodder has highlighted the need for sustainable forage systems. In India, despite being the world'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.

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.

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.