Tillage and nutrient management strategies for improving productivity and profitability of maize (Zea mays)

The experiment was carried out during Kharif season of 2021 at Farm unit 5, Integral Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, Integral University, Lucknow, U.P. (India) to evaluate the effect of tillage and nutrient management strategies on maize productivity. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with 2 tillage options i.e., Conventional tillage (CT) and Raised beds planting (RBP) as main plots and 5 nutrient management practices, viz. FP (Farmer practice), ST (State recommendation), STBR (soil test-based recommendation), NE (Nutrient expertTM) 6t/ha and NE 7 t/ha were assigned in sub-plots with 3 replications. The RBP recorded significantly higher yield attributes, viz. cob girth (16.8 cm), grain row/cob (16.2), grain/row (40.6), no. of grain/cob (700.1), grain weight/cob (162.7 g) over CT. Similarly, significantly higher grain (7.22 t/ha), stover (11.01 t/ha), cob (9.72 t/ha), biological yield (20.70 t/ha), total uptake of N, P and K, gross return, net return and B: C ratio was noted in RBP than CT. The yield attributes, yield parameters nutrient uptake and economics in maize were significantly influenced by nutrient management techniques. The maximum yield attributes, viz. cob girth, grain row/cob, grain/row, no. of grain/cob, grain weight/cob and yield were recorded under NE @7 t/ha. Similarly, total uptake of N, P and K, gross return, net return and B: C ratio was noted NE @7 t/ha than remaining other treatment. Overall, results revealed that growing maize on permanent raised bed along with NE @ 7 t/ha is a promising option for sustaining the productivity of maize intensively grown in Upper Gangetic Plains of India.