Enhancing the growth attributes and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) through nutrient management
G. Veerasiva1, S. Manimaran*2, G. Baradhan2 and S. M. Sureshkumar2
1,2Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram-608002 (India) *2Author for correspondence : sambamaran@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
A field experiment was conducted in farmer’s field during the kharif season (June-October, 2021) in Neively Vadapathy village, Orathanadu Taluk, Thanjavur District of Tamilnadu for “Enhancing the growth and yield of maize through nutrient management”. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with replicated thrice with eight treatments viz., T1 - Control, T2 - 100% Recommended Dose Fertilizer (RDF), T3 - 100% RDF + seaweed granules @ 20 kg ha-1, T4 - 100% RDF + Humic acid granules @ 20 kg ha-1, T5 - 100% RDF + seaweed granules @ 10 kg ha-1 + Humic acid granules @ 10 kg ha-1, T6 - 75% RDF+ seaweed granules @ 20 kg ha-1, T7 - 75% RDF + Humic acid granules @ 20 kg ha-1 and T8 - 75% RDF + seaweed granules @ 10 kg ha-1 + Humic acid granules @ 10 kg ha-1 . Among the different treatments, application of 100% RDF + Seaweed granules @ 10 kg ha-1 + Humic acid granules @ 10 kg ha-1 (T5) recorded the higher growth and yield attributes of maize viz., plant height (217.32 cm), leaf area index (5.68), dry matter production (14573 kg ha-1), crop growth rate(14.05 g m-2 day-1), grain yield (6594 kg ha-1) and stover yield (10550 kg ha-1). The control (T1) recorded the lowest values of growth attributes, grain and stover yield of maize.