Integrated nutrient management to enhance on-farm productivity of rainfed maize in India

Rao, B.K.R. and Sahrawat, K.L. and Wani, S.P. and Pardhasaradhy, G. (2010) Integrated nutrient management to enhance on-farm productivity of rainfed maize in India. International Journal of Soil Science, 5 (4). 216-225..

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Abstract

On-farm trials were conducted in the central Karnataka of India, over 3 years, with the objectives of quantifying the effects of applying balanced nutrition to rain fed maize with regard to yield response, plant nutrition, profitability and rain water use efficiency under multi-nutrient deficient conditions. Maize grain yield was significantly increased by the soil application of Farmers’ Inputs (FI) plus additional quantities of nitrogen and phosphorus (NP), FI+sulfur, boron and zinc (SBZn) and FI+NP+SBZn treatments compared to maize receiving no fertilizer inputs or FI. Optimizing limiting soil nutrients significantly (p<0.05) enhanced grain productivity by an average of 67.1% and stover yields by 76.6% under farm situations. Also the treatment NP+SBZn over the FI treatment significantly increased the uptake of N, P, K, S and Zn in the grain and above-ground maize parts. Use of SBZn, along with the FI’s enhanced partial factor productivity and agronomic efficiency by 202 and 96.8%, respectively. However, the benefit: cost ratio (2.9: 1) of SBZn treatment was not encouraging and it was most lucrative (6.4: 1) in FI+NP treatment. Maize fertilized with balanced nutrition (FI+NP+SBZn) showed greater rain water use efficiency (almost increased by 50%), over the farmer’s practice of fertilization. Integrated application of additional quantities of NP and correcting SBZn deficiencies in rain fed maize are critical for not only to enhance the productivity and profitability but also to maintain sustainable soil resource base.

Item Type: Article
Author Affiliation: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India
Subjects: Soil Science and Microbiology > Soil Sciences
Divisions: Maize
Depositing User: Sandhya Gir
Date Deposited: 29 Apr 2011 10:35
Last Modified: 29 Apr 2011 10:35
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3923/ijss.2010.216.225
URI: http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/1935

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