Effect of organic manures, micronutrients and graded levels of N fertigation on growth, yield and nutrient uptake of maize {Zea mays L.}
*T. Sivalingam, 1A. Balasubramanian, 1R. Gobi and 2S. Sathiyamurthi
1*,1Department of Agronomy, 2Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar-608002 (India)
ABSTRACT
A field study was carried out to study the effect of organic manures, micronutrients and various levels of N fertilizer in fertigation process on growth and yield of hybrid maize {Zea mays L.} at farmer’s land of Kovakkulam village, Karur district from January to April, 2023. This experimentconducted in randomized block design with eleven treatments and replicated thrice.The treatments comprise of implementing 100% RDF, 125% RDN, and 150% RDN through fertigation as well as a basal application of 25 kg ha-1 of a micronutrient mixture and two distinct organic manures, namely vermicompost and pressmud, as well as a control that receives no fertilizer. The findings indicated the application of 150% RDN by employing drip fertigation along with soil application of vermicompost @ 5 tha-1 and mixture of micronutrients @ 25 kg ha-1 {T10} had better outcomes of growth parameters, such as plant height at harvest {247.95 cm}, LAI at 60 DAS {6.93}, leaf area duration at 30 to 60 DAS {161 days}, DMP during 60 DAS {11810 kg ha-1},DMP at harvest {17676 kg ha-1}, CGR values of 28.87and 19.55 g m-2 day-1during 30 to 60 DAS and 60 to harvest, respectively. AGRvalues of 3.39and 2.91 cm plant-1 day-1 during 30 to 60 DAS and 60 to harvest, respectively. Yield attributes viz.,total number of grains cob-1 {381.80}, cob weight {106.61 g}, grain yield {7628 kg ha-1} and stover yield {11576 kg ha-1} recorded also higher in the same treatment. Higher nutrient intakesof nitrogen {205.04 kg ha-1}, phosphorus {26.51 kg ha-1} and potassium {182.06 kg ha-1} were also recorded in this treatment. This treatment was comparable with application of 125% RDN by drip fertigation + Vermicompost @ 5 tha-1 + Micronutrient mixture @ 25 kg ha-1 {T6}. Lower growth components, yield traits, grain yield, stover yieldand nutrient absorption rate of NPK were recorded in control treatment {T1}