Effect of tillage and precision nutrient placement on growth and productivity of maize (Zea mays)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59797/ija.v69i2.5509Keywords:
Band placement, Maize, Minimum tillage, Point placement and ProductivityAbstract
The experiment was conducted at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during rainy season of 2022 to asses the effect of tillage and precise nutrient placement on maize (Zea mays L.) growth. Employing a split-plot design with 3-tillage methods in main plots, viz. T1 , (conventional tillage); T2 , (once rotavator as minimum tillage) and T3 , (zero tillage) and 4, precision nutrient application options N1 , 50% RDF as point placement; N2 , 75% RDF as band placement; N3, 100% RDF as band placement and N4, 100% RDF as broadcasting were tested in subplots. Results indicated that tillage and precision nutrient placement practices improved the plant height and LAI of maize. Minimum tillage recorded significantly higher crop growth indices, viz. CGR (1.92 g/m2/day), RGR (26.80 g/g/day) and dry matter accumulation (204.58 g/plant) over other tillage practices at 60 to 90 Days after sowing (DAS). Root attributes also improved under minimum tillage. The grain yield was significantly higher with minimum tillage (6.22 t/ha) over other tillage practices. Among the precision nutrient application options, 100% RDF as band placement recorded significantly higher grain yield (6.20 t/ha) over N2 and N4 but remained statistically at par with 50% RDF point placement (6.06 t/ha). The findings suggested that adopting minimum tillage and precise nutrient point placement could significantly enhance maize growth and yield in kharif seasons, offering 50% reduction in fertilizer consumption.
References
Subbiah, B.V. and Asija, G.L. 1956. A rapid procedure for the estimation of available nitrogen in soils. Current Science 25: 259–260.
Bamboriya, S.D., Shivadhar, Upadhyay, P.K., Dass, A., Meena, R.P. and Garg, K. 2023. Evaluation of maize (Zea mays) genotypes under different nitrogen levels in a Trans-Gangetic Plains region. Indian Journal of Agronomy 68(4): 368–372. https://doi.org/10.59797/ija.v68i4.5456
Chen, Z., Wang, H., Liu, X., Liu, Y., Gao, S. and Zhou, J. 2016. The effect of N fertilizer placement on the fate of urea-15 N and yield of winter wheat in southeast China. PLoS One 11(4): 153701.
Choudhary, M., Rana, K.S., Meena, M.C., Bana, R.S., Jakhar, P., Ghasal, P.C. and Verma, R.K. 2019. Changes in physicochemical and biological properties of soil under conservation agriculture-based pearl millet–mustard cropping system in rainfed semi-arid region. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science 65: 911–927.
Dass, A., Suri, V.K. and Choudhary, A.K. 2014. Site specific nutrient management approaches for enhanced nutrient-use efficiency in agricultural crops. Research Review Journal Crop Science Technology 3(3): 1–6.
Government of India (GoI). 2023. Economic Survey 2022-23. Statistical Appendise pp. 37–39.
Irizar, A., Andriulo, A. and Mary, B. 2013. Long-term impact of no tillage in two intensified crop rotations on different soil organic matter fractions in Argentine rolling Pampa. Open Agriculture Journal 7: 22–31.
Jackson, M.L. 1973. Soil Chemical Analysis (2nd Ed.). Prentice Hall of India Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, pp. 498.
Karami, A., Homaee, M. and Afzalina, S.H.S. 2012. Organic resource management impact of soil aggregate stability and soil physic-Chemi Properties. Agriculture Environment 148: 22–14.
Mashingaidze, A.B., Lotz, L.A., Van der Werf, W., Chipomho, J., Kropff, M.J., Nabwami, J. 2010. The influence of fertilizer placement on maize yield and growth of weeds. In Proceedings of the 2010 Jkuat Scientific Technological and Industrialization Conference, Nairobi, Kenya, 17–19 November 2010.
Nayaka, G.V., Reddy, G.P. and Kumar, R.M. 2021. Dry-matter production and partitioning in different plant parts of rice cultivars under irrigation regimes and systems of cultivation. Indian Journal of Agricultural Research 55(3): 347–352.
Nayak, H.S., Parihar, C.M., Mandal, B.N., Patra, K., Jat, S.L., Singh, R. and Abdallah, A.M. 2022. Point placement of late vegetative stage nitrogen splits increase the productivity, N-use efficiency and profitability of tropical maize under decade long conservation agriculture. European Journal of Agronomy 133: 126–417.
Nkebiwe, P.M., Weinmann, M., Bar-Tal, A. and Müller, T. 2016. Fertilizer placement to improve crop nutrient acquisition and yield: A review and meta-analysis. Field Crops Research 196: 389–401.
Olsen, S.R. 1954. Estimation of available phosphorus in soils by extraction with sodium bicarbonate (No. 939). US Department of Agriculture.
Pang, W., Crow, W.T., Luc, J.E., McSorley, R., Giblin-Davis, R.M., Kenworthy, K.E. and Kruse, J.K. 2011. Comparison of water displacement and WinRHIZO software for plant root parameter assessment. Plant Disease 95: 1308–1310. doi: 10.1094/PDIS-01-11-0026.
Rana, K.S., Choudhary, A.K., Sepat, S., Bana, R.S. and Dass, A. 2014. Methodological and Analytical Agronomy, pp. 276. Post Graduate School, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.
Sepat, S., Phogat, B., Bana, R.S., Kumar, D. and Meena, S.L. 2023. Assessment of precise nutrient management through nutrient expert on productivity and profitability of zero-till maize. Indian Journal of Agronomy 68(4): 379–385. https://doi.org/10.59797/ija.v68i4.5458
Watson, D.J. 1952. The physiological basis of variation in yield. Advances in Agronomy 4: 101–145.
