OPTIMIZATION OF NITROGEN SCHEDULING IN MAIZE CULTIVATION (Zea mays L.)
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Date
2015
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Sardar Vallabhbhi Patel Universiy of Agriculture And Technology Meerut (U.P.)
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted in during kharif season of 2014 at Crop Research Centre (Chirauri) of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut (U.P.) to optimize the nitrogen scheduling in maize cultivation. The soil of the experimental field was well drained, sandy loam in texture and slightly alkaline in reaction. It was medium in organic carbon, available phosphorus and available potassium but low in available nitrogen with an electrical conductivity (1:2, soil: water suspension) of 1.65 dS/m. Ten treatments comprised splitting of nitrogen as basal, at knee high and at tasseling stage in different proportions including control were tested in a randomized block design with 3 replications.
The results indicated that the growth parameters (plant height, plant spread and dry matter accumulation), yields (grain, stover and biological) per ha and uptake of nitrogen in maize were significantly superior with the application of 25% basal+50% at knee high+25% at tasseling stage (T4) as compared to rest of the treatments, except T10 (three equal splits as basal, at knee high and at tasseling stage).However, T4 treatment gave 16.3 and 15.8 per cent more grains and stover yields/ha than T5 (50% basal+25% at knee high+25% at tasseling stage), the existing recommendation of nitrogen. This treatment produces 22.8 and 8.7 q/ha more biological yield than T5 (50% basal+25% at knee high+25% at tasseling stage) and T10 treatments, respectively. However, crop growth rate (g/day/m2) between 30 to 60 days in T4, T2 and T10 treatments was statistically at par.
The maize also accumulated significantly higher nitrogen in grains, stover as well as total (115.44 kg/ha, 73.65 kg/ha and 189.1 kg/ha, respectively) in T4 as compared to all the treatments, except T10. Besides, partial factor productivity, agronomic and recovery efficiency in T4 improve by 16.2, 24.2 and 33.0 per cent, respectively as compared to T5 (existing recommended N schedule). The split application of nitrogen as 25% basal+50% at knee high+25% at tasseling stage (T4) brought Rs 106840, Rs 78440/ha and 2.76 as gross, net returns and B:C ratio respectively, being highest among all the treatments followed by application of nitrogen in three equal splits (T10).
Description
OPTIMIZATION OF NITROGEN SCHEDULING IN MAIZE CULTIVATION (Zea mays L.)
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OPTIMIZATION OF NITROGEN SCHEDULING IN MAIZE CULTIVATION (Zea mays L.)