SITE-SPECIFIC NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT FOR MAIZE HYBRIDS IN AN INCEPTISOL OF WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Abstract

SUMMARYThe area under hybrid maize cultivation is increasing rapidly across South Asia. However, information regarding the proper nutrient management for modern stay-green maize hybrids in India is not adequate resulting in low productivity. Existing nutrient management practices are not able to capture the momentum change in the scenario of soil nutrient supply capacity and plant nutrient demand for achieving higher yield target. The present study aims at establishing the site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) package for an inceptisol (West Bengal, India). Soil indigenous nutrient supply capacity and nutrient use efficiency was also evaluated by using the nutrient omission plot technique. The experiment was laid out in strip-plot design, assigning three maize hybrids (P 3522, P 3396 and Rajkumar) in the vertical strip and nine fertilizer treatments [50% RDF/Recommended dose of fertilizer, 75% RDF, 100% RDF (200-60-60 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha−1), 125% RDF, 150% RDF, 100% PK, 100% NK, 100% NP and control (zero-NPK)] in the horizontal strip, with three replications. Results of the experiment revealed that the differences among cultivars were generally non-significant. The maize hybrids showed greater yield response to fertilization with N (4.14 Mg ha−1) during winter, followed by K (2.54 Mg ha−1) and P (1.58 Mg ha−1). Indigenous nutrient supply was estimated 107.2, 37.6 and 107.7 kg ha−1 for N, P and K, respectively. Both average agronomic efficiency (AE) and recovery efficiency (RE) were increased with 50% RDF and it decreased with further increase in NPK levels up to 150% RDF. The average internal efficiency (IE) was higher with 50% RDF closely followed by the treatment with absence of N. As grain yields and gross return over fertilizer (GRF) under 75 to 150% NPK treatments were similar, nutrient doses of 150 kg N, 45 kg P2O5 and 45 kg K2O ha−1 were recommended as optimum for maize hybrids.

Maize yield in smallholder agriculture system—An approach integrating socio-economic and crop management factors

“…It is well known that optimum plant stand is key to achieving resource use efficiency and higher productivity in maize, and this is critical in situations where farm resources are scarce and optimum nutrient management is not assured [57]. Nutrient management in relation to soil fertility variation is perhaps the most important factor influencing maize yield gap [9,58,59], and fertilizer is probably the easiest but the costliest option to offset soil fertility constraints for maize productivity [16,60]. However, its return to maize yield is a complex phenomenon that goes beyond cost-benefit rationale [61,62].…”

“…Maize (Zea mays L.) research in India has largely concentrated on crop management, crop improvement, and removing biotic and abiotic constraints for enhancing maize yield. However, how these factors function within the structural, biophysical, and socio-economic contexts of farming has been less explored [14,15,16]; therefore, assessing the relative significances of soil and crop management, socio-economic and structural factors is important for targeted site-specific management interventions [17,18].…”

Macronutrient Management Effects on Nutrient Accumulation, Partitioning, Remobilization, and Yield of Hybrid Maize Cultivars

“…Maize is very responsive to NPK applications, exhibiting greater whole-plant biomass and grain yield with higher nutrient content. The positive relationship between grain yield and above ground NPK accumulation in whole plant are well established ( Setiyono et al, 2010 ; Ray et al, 2018 ). Increased fertilizer NPK application rates may lead to an increase in post-silking nutrient accumulation, a delay in leaf senescence, maintenance of accumulation and remobilization of photosynthates, and a concomitant increase in grain yield ( Huang et al, 2007 ).…”

Crop Growth and Productivity of Rainy Maize-garden Pea Copping Sequence as Influenced by Kappaphycus and Gracilaria Saps at Alluvial Soil of West Bengal, India

“…The research was conducted in a randomized block design with 7 treatments replicated thrice. Size of the experimental plot was 6.0 m × 5.0 m. , respectively [10] was given through urea (46% N), single super phosphate (16% P 2 O 5 ), and muriate of potash (60% K 2 O) for rainy season maize. An equal amount of total P and K fertilizers were applied to the soil prior to sowing in each plot.…”