D. P. SinghSONU2024-09-302024-09-302024Sonu and Singh D.P.https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810215213A field experiment entitled “Effect of Foliar Application of Fertilizers on Soil Properties and Productivity of Maize (Zea mays L.)” was carried out during Kharif, 2023 at Instructional Farm (Agronomy), Rajasthan College of Agriculture, MPUAT, Udaipur during kharif season of 2023 to find out effect of foliar application of fertilizers on productivity of maize, nutrient content and uptake by maize and on soil properties after harvesting of the crop. The experiment was conducted in clay loam soil which was low in available nitrogen, medium in phosphorus and high in potassium. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design comprising nine treatments viz., control (T1), 100% RDF (T2), 75% RDF + 2% DAP foliar spray at 30 and 50 DAS (T3), 75% RDF + 2% Urea foliar spray at 30 and 50 DAS (T4), 75% RDF + 2% WSF (19:19:19) foliar spray at 30 and 50 DAS (T5), 75% RDF + 2% DAP and 2% urea foliar spray at 30 and 50 DAS (T6), 75% RDF + 2% DAP and 2% WSF (19:19:19) at 30 and 50 DAS (T7), 75% RDF + 2% Urea and 2% WSF (19:19:19) at 30 and 50 DAS (T8), 75% RDF + 2% DAP + 2% urea and 2% WSF (19:19:19) at 30 and 50 DAS (T9) with three number of replications having total 27 plots. The results revealed that application of different fertility levels with spray of urea, DAP and WSF at 30 and 50 DAS of maize crop has significantly influenced the yield attributes, yields and also increased nutrient concentration of plant and soil samples. The maximum yield attributes viz., height of plant at harvest, number of cobs plant-1, number of grains cob-1, weight of cob, test weight and yield viz., grain, stover and biological yield was recorded with the application of 75% RDF + 2% DAP + 2% urea and 2% WSF (19:19:19) at 30 and 50 DAS (T9) which was at par with the application of 75% RDF + 2% DAP and 2% WSF (19:19:19) at 30 and 50 DAS (T7) and 75% RDF + 2% Urea and 2% WSF (19:19:19) at 30 and 50 DAS (T8). The maximum concentration of nutrients and their uptake by grain, stover and total uptake, quality parameters viz., protein content and chlorophyll content at 45 DAS was recorded under application of 75% RDF + 2% DAP + 2% urea and 2% WSF (19:19:19) at 30 and 50 DAS (T9) which was at par with the application of 75% RDF + 2% DAP and 2% WSF (19:19:19) at 30 and 50 DAS (T7) and 75% RDF + 2% Urea and 2% WSF (19:19:19) at 30 and 50 DAS (T8). The uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium by grain, stover as well as total by crop was recorded with the application of 75% RDF + 2% DAP + 2% urea and 2% WSF (19:19:19) at 30 and 50 DAS (T9). Application of recommended dose of fertilizer with foliar spray of urea, DAP and WSF at 30 and 50 DAS of maize crop has significantly influenced available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc and manganese status of soil after harvest of maize crop as compared to control. However, harvest index of maize, pH, EC, organic carbon, bulk density, particle density, porosity, microbial population in soil was not influenced with the application of recommended dose of fertilizer with foliar spray of urea, DAP and WSF. The maximum net return of ₹ 113201 ha-1 was gained under application of 75% RDF + 2% DAP + 2% urea + 2% WSF (19:19:19) at 30 and 50 DAS (T9) and benefit cost ratio of 3.67 was gained under application of 75% RDF + 2% DAP + 2% urea at 30 and 50 DAS (T6).EnglishThesis