Loading...

Crop Research

Effect of soil moisture conservation practices and foliar fertilization on the performance of hybrid maize (Zea mays) under Cauvery Delta Zone of India 


DOI: 10.31830/2454-1761.2022.CR-877    | Article Id: CR-877 | Page : 313-318
Citation :- Effect of soil moisture conservation practices and foliar fertilization on the performance of hybrid maize (Zea mays) under Cauvery Delta Zone of India. Crop Res. 57: 313-318
GUDAPATI ASHOKA CHAKRAVARTHY, M. THIRUPPATHI, S. KANDASAMY AND K. DHANASEKARAN agropathy@gmail.com
Address : Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Chidambram-608 002 (Tamil Nadu), India
Online Published:

Abstract

One of the crucial variables that affects the growth and yield of the maize crop is soil moisture. Soil mulching and foliar nutrition are significantly impacted by the absence of moisture in the soil, which has a favourable impact on the growth and yield of the crops. With this background, a field experiment was conducted during kharif 2020 at Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India to maximize the productivity and profitability of maize by adopting various soil moisture conservation techniques and foliar fertilization. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design (FRBD) with three replications. The experiment consisted of two factors comprising soil moisture conservation techniques viz., sugarcane trash, water hyacinth, hydrogel and control (no mulch plot), and foliar nutrient management practice at both knee high and tasseling stages using 19 : 19 : 19 1%, DAP 1%+MOP 1%, PPFM (Pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs) 1%, 19 : 19 : 19 1%+PPFM 1%, DAP 1%+MOP 1%+PPFM 1% and control (no foliar nutrition). Among the soil moisture conservation techniques, the results indicated that mulching with water hyacinth registered significantly higher yield parameters, yield and economic returns than other techniques. With regards to foliar nutrients, foliar application of DAP 1%+MOP 1%+PPFM 1% (F6) exhibited higher yield parameters, yield and economic returns than other foliar nutrient treatments. Therefore, integration of soil moisture conservation techniques and foliar nutrients, mulching with water hyacinth and foliar application of DAP 1%+MOP 1%+PPFM 1% (M3F6) significantly produced higher yield parameters, yield and economic benefits in maize cultivation.

Keywords

Economics foliar fertilization maize soil moisture conservation yield

References

Amanullah, M., Yasir, S. K., Khalil, M. T., Jan and A. Z. Khan (2010). Phenology, growth and grain yield of maize as influenced by foliar applied urea at different growth stages. J. Plant Nutr. 33 : 71-79.
Badr, A., El-Shazly, H. H., Tarawneh, R. A. and Borner, A. (2020). Screening for drought tolerance in maize (Zea mays L.) germplasm using germination and seedling traits under simulated drought conditions. Plants 9 : 565.
Bhardwaj, R. L. (2013). Effect of mulching on crop production under rainfed condition – A review. Agrl. Rev. 34 : 188-97.
Bithy, P. A., Ahamed, K. U., Shamsuzzaman, A. M. M. and Haque, M. M. (2020). Natural mulches effect on the yield of white maize. Int. J. Plant and Soil Sci. 32 : 1-10.
Dennis, B., Alice, A., John, B. T., John, M., John, M. M., Omwoyo, O., Josephine, N. and Dative, M. (2018). Agronomic effectiveness of water hyacinth based composts. Afri. J. Agril. Res. 13 : 2055-62.
Dubey, R. S., Srivastava, R. K. and Pessarakli, M. (2021). Physiological mechanisms of nitrogen absorption and assimilation in plants under stressful conditions. In : Handbook of Plant and Crop Physiology. CRC Press. pp. 579-616.
DuPlessis, J. (2003). Maize Production. Department of Agriculture, Directorate Agricultural Information Services Private Bag X 144, Pretoria, South Africa. pp. 17.
Ewaid, S. H., Abed, S. A. and Al-Ansari, N. (2020). Assessment of main cereal crop trade impacts on water and land security in Iraq. Agronomy 10 : 98.
Gomez, K. A. and Gomez, A. A. (2010). Statistical Procedures for Agricultural Research, 2nd edn. John Wiley and Sons, New York. pp. 97-107.
Hong, J., Wang, C., Wagner, D. C., Gardea-Torresdey, J. L., He, F. and Rico, C. M. (2021). Foliar application of nanoparticles : Mechanisms of absorption, transfer and multiple impacts. Environ. Sci.: Nano. 8 : 1196-1210.
Jain, M., Kataria, S., Hirve, M. and Prajapati, R. (2019). Water deficit stress effects and responses in maize. Plant abiotic stress tolerance. Springer, Cham. pp. 129-51.
Kingra, P. K. and Kaur, H. (2017). Microclimatic modifications to manage extreme weather vulnerability and climatic risks in crop production. J. Agril. Physics 17 : 1-15.
Latha, M. R. and Nadanassababady, T. (2003). Foliar nutrition in crops. Agril. Rev. 24 : 229-34.
Mahil, E. and Kumar, B. (2019). Foliar application of nanofertilizers in agricultural crops – A review. J. Farm Sci. 32 : 239-49.
Mechergui, T., Pardos, M., Jhariya, M. K. and Banerjee, A. (2021). Mulching and weed management towards sustainability. In : Ecological Intensification of Natural Resources for Sustainable Agriculture. Springer, Singapore. pp. 255-87.
Nirere, D., Murthy, K., Lalitha, K. N., Murukannappa, B. S. and Murorunkwere, F. (2019). Effect of foliar application of water-soluble fertilizers on growth and yield of maize. Rwanda J. Agril. Sci. 1 : 44-51.
Panging, M., Neog, P., Deka, R. L. and Medhi, K. (2019). Assessment of performance of potato crop under modified microclimates in rice-based cropping system of Upper Brahmaputra valley zone of Assam. J. Agrometeorol. 21 : 249-53.
Queiroz, M. S., Oliveira, C. E., Steiner, F., Zuffo, A. M., Zoz, T., Vendruscolo, E. P., Silva, M. V., Mello, B. F. F. R., Cabral., R. C. and Menis, F. T. (2019). Drought stresses on seed germination and early growth of maize and sorghum. J. Agril. Sci. 11 : 310-18.
Rida, S., Maafi, O., Lopez-Malvar, A., Revilla, P., Riache, M. and Djemel, A. (2021). Genetics of germination and seedling traits under drought stress in a MAGIC population of maize. Plants 10 : 1786.
Rossetto, R., Dias, F. L. F., Landell, M. G. A., Cantarella, H., Tavares, S., Vitti, A. C. and Perecin, D. (2010). N and K fertilization of sugarcane ratoons harvested without burning. In : Proc. International Society of Sugar Cane Technology 27. pp. 1-8.
Singh, K. B., Jalota, S. K. and Gupta, R. K. (2015). Soil water balance and response of spring maize (Zea mays L.) to mulching and differential irrigation in Punjab. Indian J. Agron. 60 : 279-84.
Stigler, J. C., Michaem, L. D., Chrdson, R. I., Dougjas, E., Kärcher, A., Yuncai, Bur, Hucs, Z. and Schmidhalt, U. (2010). Effect of foliar fertilization application on the growth and mineral nutrient content of maize seedling under drought and salinity. J. Bot. 1747-65.
Thiruppathi, M. (2017). Diversification of existing rice-based cropping system for sustained productivity under delayed onset of monsoon. European J. Biotech. and Biosci. 5 : 80-82.

Global Footprints