Effect of Different Fertilizer and Silicon Levels on Grain Quality of Maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

A field experiment with spilt plot design was conducted to study the ‘effect of fertility and silicon levels on the nutritional quality of maize’ during Kharif 2022 and 2023 at Rajasthan College of Agriculture (RCA), MPUAT, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. The main plot treatments consist of four levels of Compounded NPK fertilizer (F0: Control, F50:  50% RDF, F75:  75% RDF and F100: 100 % RDF) and the sub-plot treatments consist of four levels of soil application of Diatomaceous Earth (Si0, Si100, Si200 and Si300). Pratap Makka-9 of maize variety was used for research purpose. The protein content, protein yield, carbohydrate and energy in maize grain were higher under 100% RDF than other levels of fertilizer. Application of 300 kg Diatomaceous Earth per hectare recorded higher protein content, protein yield, carbohydrate and energy in maize grain over the rest of silicon levels. The crude fat in maize grain was lower in 100% RDF. Application of 300 kg Diatomaceous Earth per hectare recorded lower crude fat in maize grain. Significantly higher protein yield was recorded under the combined application of 100% RDF and 300 kg diatomaceous earth per hectare. However, protein yield was at par in the application of 75% RDF with 300 kg Diatomaceous Earth per hectare and 100% RDF with 200 kg Diatomaceous Earth per hectare. The lowest crude fat was recorded under the combined application of 100% RDF and 300 kg Diatomaceous Earth per hectare over the rest of treatment combinations. Application of 100% RDF with 300 kg DE ha-1 (F100Si300) was recommended treatment for nutritional high quality maize grain.