Dr. P. KAVITHANARASAPURAM RANGASAWMY2024-05-222024-05-222024-05-22D6579https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810209366The 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 xvii 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.EnglishThesis