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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 11 No. sp2 (2024): International conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches to SDGs: Life Sciences Perception

Influence of tillage, residue and nitrogen placement on maize growth and yield under conservation agriculture

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.3662
Submitted
2 April 2024
Published
02-12-2024

Abstract

Conservation agriculture (CA) is changing the paradigm in production and productivity of maize-wheat system, but proper residue management and quantification, and application of nitrogen (N) are the main bottlenecks. In this context a field experiment was conducted in split plot design consisting of three crop establishment practices (CEPs) in main plots i.e., ZT with residue retention (ZT + R), zero tillage (ZT), conventional tillage (CT) and 4 N placement methods (NPMs) i.e., Control (only P and K applied), RDN: Recommended Dose of N (Band placement of 1/3rd N at sowing followed by surface placement of 1/3rd N during each at V6 (emerged six leaves with the complete collar visible) and tasselling stage, improved RDN (band placement of 1/3rd N as basal dose followed by 1/3rd nitrogen as subsurface placement at V6 stage followed by 1/3rd nitrogen as surface band placement at tasselling stage) and improved 80 % RDN (Band placement of 30 % N as basal followed by subsurface placement of 30 % N in maize (at V6 stage) and surface band placement of 20 % N in maize (at tasselling stage). The ZT + R treatment resulted in significantly higher plant height (6.61-7.02 %) and dry matter accumulation (DMA) (7.50-7.73 %) during different crop growth stages in maize compared to CT. The NPM involving subsurface placement of N at the V6 stage, that is, improved RDN, significantly increased plant height (2.37-2.73 %) and DMA (1.85-4.13 %) as compared to RDN during different crop growth stages. Significantly higher NDVI and lower CTD values were reported under ZT+R across crop growth stages over the years. ZT + R in combination with improved RDN resulted in significantly higher stover and biological yield by 10.40 and 10.10 %, respectively, as compared to CT with RDN. The improved 80 % RDN saved 20 % N to achieve the same level of productivity as the RDN, emphasising the role of the subsurface placement of nitrogen. Therefore, residue retention in ZT with improved RDN can enhance maize productivity in the Indo-Gangetic Plain and similar agro-ecologies. This research contributes to bridging the gap in nitrogen management under conservation agriculture.

References

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