Vol. 11, Special Issue 7 (2022)

Author(s):
P Amarajyoti, G Naveen Kumar, B Mounika, D Chinnam Naidu G Chitti Babu and K Bhagya Lakshmi

Abstract:
Maize is the most important cereal crop grown in north coastal Andhra Pradesh after rice. Conventional method of maize cultivation is practiced by the farmers after the harvest of the paddy, where soil is ploughed completely and used for maize sowings. Such traditional cultivation not only wastes the residual moisture of the field but also involves many operational costs of ploughing and irrigations. Thus to avoid such wastage and to make it economical KVK, Srikakulam has introduced zero tillage maize in rice fallows as part of NICRA project. Proper utilization of residual moisture along with getting remunerative prices for the farmers is the main aim of this project. Front line demonstrations (FLDs) were organized in 3 different villages in Rabi 2020-2021 and Rabi 2021-2022. Zero tillage maize made about 3.91 and 3.05% yield improvement over check with reduced cost of cultivation of Rs 3300 /ha resulting in overall raised net returns of Rs 7500/ha and Rs 10000/ha in both the years respectively. The credit of such result is due to rational resource management and good market price due to early harvest.