Effects of Different Rates of Plant Nutrients on Yield Attributes and Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.)

Aim: Experiment was conducted to study the effect of different rates of plant nutrients on yield attributes and yield of Maize (Zea mays L.).

Study Design: A field experiment in randomized block design consists of 12 treatments combination with three replications.

Place and Duration of Study: Regional Research Station, Karnal of CCS Haryana Agricultural University during kharif seasons of year 2015.

Methodology: 12 treatments combination viz., T1 - Control (no fertilizer), T2 - N (150 kg/ha), T3 - NP (150, 60 kg/ha), T4 - NPK (150, 60, 60 kg/ha), T5 - NPK + S (160, 60, 60, 40 kg/ha), T6 - NPK + Zn (150, 60, 60, 25 kg/ha), T7 - NPK (150, 60, 60 kg/ha) + Fe (foliar application of FeSO4 @ 1% twice i.e. 30 and 45 DAS), T8 - NPK (150, 60, 60 kg/ha) + Mn (foliar application of MnSO4 @ 0.5% twice i.e. 30 and 45 days after sowing (DAS), T9 - NPK + S + Zn (150, 60, 60, 40, 25 kg/ha), T10 – NPK + S (150, 60, 60, 40, 25 kg/ha) + Zn + Fe (foliar application of MnSO4@ 0.5% twice i.e. 30 and 45 DAS), T11 - NPK + S + Zn (150, 60, 60, 40, 25 kg/ha) + Fe + Mn (foliar application of FeSO4 @ 1% and MnSO4 @ 0.5% twice i.e. 30 and 45 DAS) and T12 - soil test based fertilizer application (150, 60, 40 kg/ha) laid out in randomized block design.

Results: The results revealed that application of recommended NPK with micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Mn) is statically at par to alone NPK application in terms of yield and yield attributes. Maximum grain yield (73400 kg/ha), cob length (15.7cm), cob girth (3.6 cm) and test weight (21.0g) was recorded in treatment T5 which is significantly superior over T1, T2 and T3 where at least single primary macro nutrient lacking.

Conclusion: Finding suggests that use of recommended NPK in combination with Sulphur increase yield attributes and productivity.