Vol. 11, Issue 9 (2022)

Author(s):
Desai NB, Dr. Mevada KD and Ganvit KJ

Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted at College Agronomy Farm, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat, India during rabi-summer seasons of the years 2019-20 and 2020-21 to study the influence of integrated nutrient management on yield and economics of rabi maize (Zea mays L.) with different integrated nutrient management practices viz., 100% RDF, 75% RDF + 25% RDN through FYM, 50% RDF + 50% RDN through FYM, 75% RDF + 25% RDN through vermicompost, 50% RDF + 50% RDN through vermicompost, 100% RDF + NPK Consortium, 75% RDF + 25% RDN through FYM + NPK Consortium, 50% RDF + 50% RDN through FYM + NPK Consortium, 75% RDF + 25% RDN through vermicompost + NPK Consortium, 50% RDF + 50% RDN through vermicompost + NPK Consortium, 50% RDF + 25% RDN through FYM + 25% RDN through vermicompost and 50% RDN through FYM + 50% RDN through vermicompost + NPK Consortium. The soil of the experimental plot was loamy sand in texture, deficient in available nitrogen, medium in organic carbon and available phosphorus and high in available potassium. Results revealed that 75% RDF + 25% RDN through vermicompost + NPK Consortium recorded significantly higher growth and yield attributes viz.; plant height and dry matter accumulation at 60 DAS and at harvest, cob length and cob girth. They also produced significantly higher grain and stover yield over rest of the treatments. Higher net monetary returns of ₹ 104736/ha were fetched under 75% RDF + 25% RDN through vermicompost + NPK Consortium while, the highest benefit cost ratio of 4.97 was recorded under application of 100% RDF + NPK Consortium.