Integrated Nutrient Management in Rainfed Maize (Zea mays L.) under Eastern Ghat High Land Zone of Odisha

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2016 and 2017 at Regional Research and Technology Transfer Sub-Station, Umerkote of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology comes under Eastern Ghat High Zone of Odisha, India to assess the response of integrated nutrient management on yield and economics of rainfed maize. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with six treatments replicated four times. The experimental soils were strongly acidic, non-saline, loamy sand, low in organic carbon, available N, P, B, Zn and medium in available K contents. The maximum 100 seeds weight (38.86 g),  stover yield (9.57 t ha-1), grain yield (7.65 t ha-1), net return (INR 50,711 ha-1)  and B:C ratio (1.98) were recorded in soil test based N:P:K:B:Zn (i.e. N:P2O5:K2O:S:B:Zn @ 150:75:60:1.25:6.25 kg ha-1) + lime @ 0.1 LR + FYM @ 5 t ha-1  (T6) followed by soil test based N:P:K:Zn @ 150:75:60:1.25: 6.25 kg ha-1 + lime @ 0.1 LR (T5) over control (i.e Farmers Practice N:P:K:Zn @ 160:80:45:0:0 kg ha-1). Hence, it could be concluded that application of soil test based N:P:K:B:Zn @ 150:75:60:1.25:6.25 kg ha-1 + lime 0.1 LR + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 recorded better yield (7.65 t ha-1) and income (INR 50,711 ha-1) as compared to other treatments as well as farmers practice.