Effect of Growth Enhancer on Growth and Productivity of Maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

The experiment was conducted during Rabi 2021 at Zonal Agricultural Research. Station, GKVK, Bangalore to study the efficacy of a Growth Enhancer (GE) as a foliar nutrient source for enhancing maize growth and yield. The field investigation was carried out using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) having eleven. treatments viz., T1: GE 10.0 ml per litre + 50 % RDF, T2: GE 10.0 ml per litre + 75 % RDF, T3: GE 10.0 ml per litre + 100 % RDF, T4: GE 20.0 ml per litre + 50 % RDF, T5: GE 20.0 ml per litre + 75 % RDF, T6: GE 20.0 ml per litre + 100 % RDF, T7: Urea spray - 0.5 % + 100 % RDF, T8: Nano N two sprays at 30 and 60 DAS + 50% RDN and 100% P&K, T9: Nano N & P two sprays at 30 and 60 DAS + 50% RDNP and 100% K, T10: RDF with FYM, and T11: Only RDF with three replications. The results of the study revealed that among different treatments application of growth enhancer 20 ml per litre of water with 100 % RDF was recorded a significantly higher plant height, dry matter accumulation in leaves, stem, cob and total dry matter accumulation, cob length, cob girth,, number of kernels cob-1 and weight of kernels cob-1, kernel and stover yield in comparison to all other treatments. Similarly higher gross returns, net returns and benefit cost ratio were obtained with the application of GE 20.0 ml per litre + 100 % RDF.