Influence of Biofertilizers and zinc Sulphate on yield and economics of Maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

The field experiment was carried out during Rabi season of 2022 at the Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology And Sciences, Prayagraj (U.P.) India, to study the effect of bio- fertilizers and zinc sulphate on growth and yield of Maize. The treatments consist of Bio-fertilizers PSB, Azotobacter, PSB + Azotobacter and ZnSO4 (20, 25, 30 kg/ha) The soil of experimental plot was sandy loamy in texture, nearly neutral in soil reaction (pH 7.8), low in organic carbon (0.35%). The outcomes showed that the higher plant height (159.03 cm), higher plant dry weight (162.70 g/plant), higher crop growth rate (26.250 g/m2/day), number of cobs/plant (1.8), higher number of rows/cob (16.8), number of seeds per cob (553.4), higher 100 seed weight (29.3 gm), higher Grain yield (6.5 t/ha) higher straw yield (12.9 t/ha), and Harvest index (33.8) were significantly influenced with  application of PSB + Azotobacter + ZnSO4 30 kg/ha. Higher gross return (INR 1,49,119.5/ha), higher net return (INR 1,08,439.5.00/ha) and higher B:C ratio (2.66) were also recorded in treatment No.9 (PSB + Azotobacter + ZnSO4 30 kg/ha).