Effect of Biofertilizers and Zinc on Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif 2022 at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology And Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India. The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam in texture, slightly alkaline in soil reaction (pH 8), low level of organic carbon (0.28%), available N (219 kg/ha), P (11.6 kg/ha) and K (217.2 kg/ha). The experiment was conducted in randomized block design consisting of 10 treatments with 3 different levels of biofertilizers and different levels of zinc 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.6% (foliar application) with three replications and the treatments were allocated randomly in each replication. On the topic “Effect of Biofertilizers and Zinc on Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.)”,.The results showed that treatment 9 with the application of  PSB (10 g) + VAM (10 g) + Zinc 0.6% recorded significantly higher plant height (213.08 cm), higher plant dry weight (106.76 g) ,maximum number of cobs/plant (2.20), higher cob length (17.63 cm), maximum number of seed/cob (294.56), higher seed index (39.56 g), higher seed yield (2.30t/ha), higher stover yield (8.53 t/ha), higher harvest index (21.26%) compared to other treatments. The maximum gross returns (1,08772.00 INR/ha), maximum net returns (72,573.00 INR/ha) and benefit cost ratio (2.00) was recorded in treatment 9 with the application of PSB (10 g) + VAM (10 g) + Zinc 0.6% as compared to other treatments. Minimum parameters were recorded in treatment 10 control plot with RDF 120:60:40 kg/ha NPK.