Impact of Different dose of Plant Nutrient in Terms of Growth, Quality, Yield and Economics of Maize (Zea mays L.)

Experiment was conducted to study the effect of different doses of plant nutrients on growth, yield and economics of Maize (Zea mays L.), at Regional Research Station, Karnal during Kharif 2015 consisting of 12 treatments combination viz., T1 - Control (no fertilizer), T2 - N (150 kg/ha), T3 - NP (150, 60 kg/ha), T4 - NPK (150, 60, 60 kg/ha), T5 - NPK + S (160, 60, 60, 40 kg/ha), T6 - NPK + Zn (150, 60, 60, 25 kg/ha), T7 - NPK (150, 60, 60 kg/ha) + Fe (foliar application of FeSO4 @ 1% twice i.e. 30 and 45 DAS), T8 - NPK (150, 60, 60 kg/ha) + Mn (foliar application of MnSO4 @ 0.5 % twice i.e. 30 and 45 days after sowing (DAS), T9 - NPK + S + Zn (150, 60, 60, 40, 25 kg/ha), T10 – NPK + S (150, 60, 60, 40, 25 kg/ha) + Zn + Fe (foliar application of MnSO4 @ 0.5 % twice i.e. 30 and 45 DAS), T11 - NPK + S + Zn (150, 60, 60, 40, 25 kg/ha) + Fe + Mn (foliar application of FeSO4@ 1% and MnSO4 @ 0.5% twice i.e. 30 and 45 DAS) and T12 - soil test based fertilizer application (150, 60, 40 kg/ha) laid out in randomized block design. The results revealed that application of recommended NPK with micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Mn) to compare alone application of recommended NPK(T4) have no significant effect on plant height and dry matter accumulation, cob yield, grain yield and straw yield of Protein content in grain was not significantly affected by different treatments. Maximum B:C ratio was obtained from T5[NPK + S (160, 60, 60, 40 kg/ha)] because of relatively highest grain (7340 kg/ha) and straw yield (10980 kg/ha) in comparison to cost.