Vol. 11, Issue 4 (2022)

Author(s):
Sravanthi Thamatam and Biswarup Mehera

Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted during Zaid season (2021) at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, SHUATS, Prayagraj (U.P). The soil of experimental plot was sandy loam in texture, nearly in soil reaction (pH 7.1), low in organic carbon (0.28%), available N (225 kg/ha), available P (19.50 kg/ha) and available K (213.7 kg/ha). The Treatments consisted of Bio fertilizers B₁ (Azotobacter 20 g/kg), B₂ (Azospirillum 20 g/kg), B₃ (Azotobacter 10 g/kg + Azospirillum 10 g/kg), and 3 levels of zinc Zn₁ (0.25%), Zn₂ (0.5%), and Zn₃ (0.75%). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with 9 treatments and replicated thrice. The results revealed that the application of Azotobacter 10 g/kg + Azospirillum 10 g/kg + 0.75% zinc recorded maximum plant height (168.40 cm), Number of leaves/plant (13.2), plant dry weight (89.97 g/plant) and cobs/plant (1.90), number of grains/row (14.10), number of grain rows/cob (429.70) and cob length (20.22), girth of cob (13.98), cob yield (9.80 t/ha) and straw yield (14.07 t/ha). Maximum Gross return (Rs.126663 INR/ha), Net return (84441.90 INR/ha) and B:C ratio (2.11) were also recorded with the treatment with the application of Azotobacter 10 g/kg + Azospirillum 10 g/kg + 0.75% Zinc.