<![CDATA[Imbalanced use of fertilizers along with inappropriate sources and application methods has attributed to reduced nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and crop productivity. The use of the right N source and appropriate application method is essential to reduce N losses and increase NUE, crop yield, and economic return. A field trial was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station, Dasharathpur, Surkhet following a randomized complete block design with seven treatments (three replications) using various N sources (urea, urea briquette, and three different blended fertilizers) and their application methods to assess their fertilizing efficiencies. Treatments showed a significant effect (p<0.05) for all the traits viz. plant and ear height, stover and grain yield, harvest index, and thousand-grain weight. Compared to the recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), the grain yield advantage of blended fertilizer (10:26:26 NPK) in a combination of Zinc followed by RDF+Zn and urea deep placement (UDP) applied treatments were 7.8, 2.7, and 2.4% respectively. Among all, deep placement of urea briquette was found to be economic for the cultivation of Khumal Hybrid-2 maize variety while producing similar yield (2.4% higher) with 25% lower nitrogen dose, increasing agronomic nitrogen use efficiency by 10.41 kg/kg N, and economic benefit by US$30.4/ha compared to RDF.]]>
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