Effect of Nutrients on Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.) Under Long Term Fertilizer Experiment

DOI: 10.22161/ijeab.114.12

Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2025 at the Instructional Farm, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur, under the Long-Term Fertility Experiment (29th maize–wheat cropping sequence) to evaluate the effect of integrated nutrient management on the growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.). The experiment comprised twelve nutrient management treatments involving different combinations of inorganic fertilizers, farmyard manure (FYM), zinc (Zn), sulphur (S), and Azotobacter arranged in a randomized block design with three replications. The soil of the experimental site was clay loam, slightly alkaline in reaction (pH 8.23), non-saline, and contained 8.10 g kg-1 organic carbon. Growth parameters, yield attributes, grain yield, stover yield, biological yield, and harvest index were recorded at harvest. The results revealed that the integrated application of 100% NPK + FYM @ 10 t ha-1 (T₇) significantly improved crop growth and productivity over other treatments. This treatment recorded the maximum plant height (232.75 cm), dry matter accumulation (132.70 g plant⁻¹), cob length (18.13 cm), and cob weight (190.50 g). It also produced the highest grain yield (4093 kg ha⁻¹), stover yield (5397 kg ha⁻¹), and biological yield (9490 kg ha⁻¹), representing increases of 209.14%, 146.21%, and 162.44%, respectively, over the control. The T₇ treatment remained statistically at par with FYM @ 10 t ha-1 + 100% NPK (excluding the nutrient contribution from FYM) and 150% NPK for most growth and yield parameters. Harvest index was not significantly influenced by the nutrient management treatments. The study demonstrated that the combined application of inorganic fertilizers with FYM under long-term fertility management enhanced nutrient availability, improved soil health, and significantly increased maize productivity compared with the sole application of chemical fertilizers or organic manure.

Keywords:
Maize, Integrated nutrient management, Long-term fertility experiment, Farmyard manure.

Article Info:
Received: 18 Jun 2026; Received in revised form: 13 Jul 2026; Accepted: 17 Jul 2026; Available online: 23 Jul 2026

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