Vol. 10, Issue 12 (2021)

Author(s):
Ramesh Ch, Venkata Ramana M, Jaya Sree G, Srinivasa Raju M and Siva Sankar A

Abstract:
Field experiment was conducted during dry seasons for two consecutive years at College Farm, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad on zero till maize after kharif rice on sandy clay loam soil with medium organic carbon content, low available nitrogen; and medium phosphorus and potassium status in randomized block design (factorial concept) in three replications with three phosphorus levels: 50% RDP, 75% RDP and 100% RDP (60 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1) and three phosphorus application times (at 10 days before harvest of rice (M₁)), at the time of sowing of maize (M₂) and at the time of first irrigation to maize (M₃). The results revealed that application of RDP i.e., 60 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 recorded superior growth parameters at all the stages of crop growth over that of 75% RDP and 50% RDP. It also produced significantly higher yield components which ultimately resulted in higher grain (5283 and 5034 kg ha^-1) and stover (7316 and 6827 kg ha^-1) yields during first and second, respectively over lower P rates. M₁ and M₂ treatments being on par resulted in better growth parameters and yield components over its delayed application M₃. The former two treatments respectively recorded a grain yield of 5020 and 4849 kg ha^-1 in first year and 4810 and 4741 kg ha^-1 in second year when compared to M₃.