PERFORMANCE OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.) AS INFLUENCED BY THE APPLICATION OF FORTIFIED ZINC
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Date
2024-05-22
Authors
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Publisher
Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University
Abstract
The present field experiment entitled “Performance of maize (Zea
mays L.) as influenced by the application of fortified zinc” was conducted
on sandy loam soils at Agricultural College Farm, Mahanandi during rabi,
2021-2022. The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam in texture, with
neutral in reaction (pH 7.33), low in organic carbon (0.48 %) and available
nitrogen (248 kg ha-1), medium in available phosphorus (49 kg ha-1), high in
available potassium (586 kg ha-1), low in available zinc (0.54 mg kg-1) and
manganese (3.08 mg kg-1), medium in available Iron (7.13 mg kg-1) and high in
available copper (0.92 mg kg-1). The design adopted was randomized block
design with eleven treatments, which were replicated thrice. The treatments
comprise of (T1) Control (100 % RDF), (T2) FYM @ 10 t ha-1, (T3) ZnSO4 @
50 kg ha-1, (T4) FYM @ 10 t ha-1 enriched with ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1, (T5) Foliar
application of 0.2 % ZnSO4 at knee - high stage, (T6) FYM @ 10 t ha-1 enriched
with ZnSB, (T7) FYM @ 10 t ha-1 enriched with ZnSB + foliar application of
0.2 % ZnSO4 at knee - high stage, (T8) Soil application of ZnSB @ 5 kg ha-1
,
(T9) Seed treatment with ZnSB @ 10 g kg-1 of seed, (T10) Soil application of
ZnSB @ 5 kg ha-1 +foliar application of 0.2 % ZnSO4 at knee - high stage and
(T11) Seed treatment with ZnSB @ 10 g kg-1 of seed + foliar application of
0.2 % ZnSO4 at knee - high stage. The Recommended dose of fertilizers for
maize is 240-80-80 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1
.
Maximum plant height and dry matter production at knee - high,
tasseling and harvest stages were recorded with the application of FYM @ 10 t
ha-1 enriched with ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1 (T4).
The highest kernel yield, stover yield, cob yield with husk and yield
attributing characters viz., cob length, cob girth, number of cobs plant-1, number
of rows cob-1, number of kernels row-1 and total number of kernels cob-1 were
produced with the application of FYM @ 10 t ha-1 enriched with ZnSO4 @ 50
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kg ha-1 (T4) which was on par with application of FYM @10 t ha-1 enriched
with ZnSB @ 5 kg ha-1 + foliar application of 0.2 % ZnSO4 (T7) and FYM @10
t ha-1 enriched with ZnSB @ 5 kg ha-1) (T6).
The highest content and uptake of macronutrients (N, P and K) and
micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) of maize crop were registered with the
application of FYM @ 10 t ha-1 enriched with ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1 (T4), which
was on par with application of FYM @10 t ha-1 enriched with ZnSB @ 5 kg
ha-1 + foliar application of 0.2 % ZnSO4 (T7) and FYM @10 t ha-1 enriched with
ZnSB @ 5 kg ha-1) (T6).
Application of FYM @ 10 t ha-1 enriched with ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1 (T4)
recorded maximum available N, P and Zn, which was on par with the
application of FYM @10 t ha-1 enriched with ZnSB @ 5 kg ha-1 + foliar
application of 0.2 % ZnSO4 (T7) and FYM @10 t ha-1 enriched with ZnSB @ 5
kg ha-1) (T6).
The highest dehydrogenase activity, bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes
were registered with the application of FYM @10 t ha
-1 enriched with ZnSB @
5 kg ha-1) (T6), which was on par with FYM @ 10 t ha-1 enriched with ZnSO4
@ 50 kg ha-1 (T4) and FYM @10 t ha-1 enriched with ZnSB @ 5 kg ha-1 + foliar
application of 0.2 % ZnSO4 (T7).
Application of FYM @ 10 t ha-1 enriched with ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1 (T4)
recorded the highest cost of cultivation and gross returns.
Maximum zinc use efficiency, net returns and B:C ratio were observed
due to the application of FYM @10 t ha-1 enriched with ZnSB @ 5 kg ha-1 +
foliar application of 0.2 % ZnSO4 (T7), which was on par with FYM @10 t
ha-1 enriched with ZnSB @ 5 kg ha-1) (T6) and FYM @ 10 t ha-1 enriched with
ZnSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1 (T4).
In conclusion, the study indicated that application of FYM @10 t ha-1
enriched with ZnSB @ 5 kg ha-1 + foliar application of 0.2 % ZnSO4 (T7) to
maize is found to be ecologically and economically feasible nutrient
management practice to achieve sustainable yields in Scarce Rainfall Zone of
Andhra Pradesh.