Effect of Varying Levels of Fertilizers and Date of Sowing on Production and Economic Profitability of Kharif Maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

Maize, being highly nutritious and multi-purpose C4 crop can be grown throughout the year. Judicious nutrient management and selection of optimum sowing dates play major roles in enhancing productivity and profitability of kharif maize to meet the food demand of nation under changing climate scenario. The field experiment was conducted during khraif season of 2021 at agricultural farm, Lovely Professional University, Punjab, in split plot design with four fertilizer levels (125, 100, 75, and 50% RDF – recommended dose of fertilizers) in main plots and four sowing dates (15th June, 30th June, 15th July, and 30th July) in sub plots, replicated thrice. Comparatively greater yield attributes as well as grain yield (8.22 t ha-1), stover yield (11.86 t ha-1) and harvest index (40.9%) were observed when maize was grown on 30th June under application of 125% RDF. Production economics indicated that maize grown on 30th June under application of 125% RDF recorded maximum gross return ($2221 ha-1), net return ($1446 ha-1), and B:C (2.87). Maize grown on 30th July under application of 50% RDF recorded lowest yield attributes, grain yield (2.70 t ha-1), stover yield (5.31 t ha-1), harvest index (33.7%), gross return ($739 ha-1), net return ($19 ha-1) and B:C (1.03).