OPTIMISING THE ORGANIC, INORGANIC AND BIOFERTILISER NEEDS FOR SUSTAINED PRODUCTIVITY OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.)
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Date
2018
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University
Abstract
A field experiment entitled “Optimising the organic, inorganic and
biofertiliser needs for sustained productivity of maize (Zea mays L.)” was
carried out during kharif, 2017 on sandy loam soils of wetland farm of S.V.
Agricultural College, Tirupati campus of Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural
University.
The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with seven
treatments and replicated thrice. The treatments consisted of seven nutrient
management practices viz., 100% RDF (T1), FYM @ 10 t ha-1 + Azospirillum
@ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T2), Vermicompost @ 2 t ha-1 + Azospirillum
@ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T3), 50% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 (T4), 50%
RDF + Vermicompost @ 1 t ha-1 (T5), 50% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 +
Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T6), 50% RDF + Vermicompost
@ 1 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T7). Maize hybrid
Kaveri-55 was tested in the present experiment.
Various nutrient sources significantly influenced the growth parameters,
yield attributes, yield, economic returns and nutrient uptake of maize as well
as post-harvest soil available nutrient and microbial status.
At 25 DAS the influence of organic, inorganic and biofertiliser
combinations on crop growth were found to be non significant. At 50, 75
DAS and at harvest higher stature of growth parameters viz., plant height,
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LAI and dry matter production were recorded with 100% RDF (T1), which
was significantly superior to the remaining treatments. Among the various
combined sources of nutrients tried, supply of 50% RDF + Vermicompost @
1 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T7) recorded
maximum growth stature which was statistically on par with 50% RDF +
FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T6) and these
two treatments are significantly superior to rest of the treatments. Growth
characters were found to be at their lowest with FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Azospirillum
@ 5 kg ha-1+ PSB @ 5 kg ha-1(T2).
Regarding the yield attributes viz., number of cobs plant-1, cob length
and girth, number of kernel rows cob-1, number of kernels row-1, cob weight,
kernel weight cob-1, hundred kernel weight were higher with application of
100% recommended dose of nutrient through fertilizers (T1). Among the
various combined sources, application of 50% RDF + Vermicompost @
1 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T7) resulted in
improved stature of yield attributes, which was comparable with 50% RDF +
FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T6). Poor
supply of nutrients with FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @
5 kg ha-1 (T2) resulted in the deflated stature of all the above yield attributes.
Supply of 100% RDF (T1) recorded the maximum kernel and stover
yield in maize which was distinctly superior over rest of the treatments.
Among the various combined sources of organic, inorganic and biofertilisers,
50% RDF + Vermicompost @ 1 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @
5 kg ha-1 (T7) resulted higher kernel and stover yield, which was however in
parity with 50% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @
5 kg ha-1 (T6). The lowest yield of both kernel as well as stover were recorded
with FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T2).
Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake were highest with 100%
recommended dose of nutrients through fertilizers (T1). The next higher
uptake was recorded with 50% RDF + Vermicompost @ 1 t ha-1 +
Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T7) and it was on par with 50%
RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T6).
The lowest uptake of nutrient was registered with FYM @ 5 t ha-1 +
Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1(T2).
The higher post-harvest soil available nitrogen and potassium status
was recorded with 50% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 +
PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T6) which was significantly superior over rest of the
treatments. The next best treatment was supply of 50% RDF + Vermicompost
@ 1 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T7) and it was
comparable with 100% RDF (T1). Post-harvest soil available phosphorus
status was noticed to be higher with 100% RDF (T1) which was distinctly
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superior over rest of the treatments. The next best status was recorded with
50% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1
(T7) and it was comparable with 50% RDF + Vermicompost @ 1 t ha-1 +
Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T7). The post-harvest soil
nutrient status was lower with Vermicompost @ 2 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @
5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T3) compared to rest of the treatments.
The maximum post-harvest soil microbial status was registered with
50% RDF + Vermicompost @ 1t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @
5 kg ha-1 (T7) which was however comparable with 50% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1
+ Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T6). The next higher microbial
count was observed in FYM @ 10 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 +PSB @
5 kg ha-1 (T2) and Vermicompost @ 2t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB
@ 5 kg ha-1 (T3) which were comparable between themselves. The postharvest
soil microbial status was lower with 100% RDF (T1).
The highest gross returns, net returns and benefit cost ratio were
realized with 100% RDF (T1) which was distinctly superior over rest of the
treatments. Among the various combinations of organic, inorganic and
biofertilisers tried, application of 50% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Azospirillum
@ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T6) recorded higher gross returns, net returns
and benefit cost ratio. The lowest economic returns were obtained with
Vermicompost @ 2 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T3).
In conclusion, the present study revealed that higher productivity of
maize as well as economic returns could be realized with 100% recommended
dose of nutrients through fertilizers i.e. 180-60-50 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1.
Among the various integrated nutrient management practices, application of
50% RDF + Vermicompost @ 1 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 + PSB @
5 kg ha-1 proved to be the most promising and feasible approach for higher
yield where as 50% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 5 kg ha-1 +
PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (T6) was economically viable, along with maintenance of
soil biological activity and fertility for the sustenance of soil ecology. Hence,
adoption of a balanced nutrient management approach will safeguard the
desire for higher crop productivity with economic returns. Long run adoption
of combined use of fertilizers and organics expected to match and even excel
the sole fertilizer based production strategy.
Description
D5696
Keywords
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