Vol. 11, Issue 12 (2022)

Author(s):
P Ammaji

Abstract:
Field investigations were carried out to find out yield of maize as influenced by different management practices and N, P and K uptakes and nutrient balance sheet of maize as influenced by legume crops, residue management practices and nitrogen levels in legume- Maize sequence. The experiment was conducted in split plot design for two consecutive years on sandy clay soil at Agricultural college, Aswaraopeta, Khammam (dt.), Telangana state. The treatments consisted of three legumes, viz., cowpea, (M₁) field bean (M₂) and greengram (M₃) as main plot treatments during the kharif season and two residue management practices viz., residue removal (I₀) and residue incorporation (I₁) as sub- plot treatments. Four nitrogen levels 75 kg ha^-1 (N₁), 150 kg ha^-1(N₂), 225 kg ha^-1 (N₃) and 300 kg ha^-1(N₄) as sub- sub plot treatments allocated to maize during rabi season. The results of the experiments revealed that yield and yield attributes of maize were significantly more when cowpea was taken as a preceding crop to maize. Incorporation of crop residues were also increased the yield of maize over its removal. Each increment in the level of nitrogen also contributed positively in increasing the yield of maize up to the highest level tried. The uptake of N, P and K was highest by the maize when cowpea was taken as a preceding crop to maize during both the years under investigations. Incorporation of crop residues was also had a positive influence on the up take of all the three nutrients. Increment in the dose of nitrogen had a positive influence on the uptake on N by maize crop during two years of study. The highest uptake N, P and K by grain and stover was 124,29.39 and 101.25 kgha^-1, respectively was recorded at highest level of N application. The NPK balance of the soil after harvest of the maize crop was highest in greengram and field bean compared to cowpea grown as a proceeding crop to maize. There exits differential response of legume crops in increasing the fertility of the soil.