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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. sp1 (2026): Recent Advances in Agriculture

Real time nitrogen management using chlorophyll content measurements for improved kharif maize performance

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.11933
Submitted
23 September 2025
Published
27-01-2026

Abstract

Maize production in India's Punjab region is crucial for food security but faces challenges in nitrogen (N) use efficiency. Conventional blanket N applications often lead to environmental losses and reduced profitability. This study investigated the efficacy of real-time precision nitrogen management using a leaf color chart (LCC) and chlorophyll content meter (CCM) on the growth, physiology and yield of three maize hybrids (PMH14, PMH13, ADV9293) in the Punjab central plains during the 2024 kharif season. A split-plot design was employed with hybrids as main plots and six N management strategies as sub-plots: LCC-based N application at thresholds 4 and 5, CCM-based application at thresholds 40 and 50, a combination of 50 % nano-N + 50 % inorganic N and a control of 100 % recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF; 120:30:30 kg/ha N:P:K). Results demonstrated that sensor-guided N management, particularly CCM 50, significantly enhanced key parameters compared to conventional methods. The hybrid PMH14 exhibited superior performance, achieving the highest plant height (130.20 cm), leaf area (4317.59 cm²), cob length (23.39 cm), total chlorophyll content (42.00 mg/g FW) and grain yield (8.35 t/ha). Critically, the interaction between PMH14 and the CCM 50 treatment yielded the maximum grain output (10.13 t/ha). These findings conclusively show that synchronizing N supply with crop demand through high-threshold sensor-based management optimizes physiological processes, improves nitrogen use efficiency and significantly boosts productivity, offering a sustainable alternative to fixed-schedule N fertilization for maize in similar agro-climatic zones.

References

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  47. 2. Kumar R, Srinivas K, Sivaramane N. Assessment of the maize situation, outlook and investment opportunities in India. Country Report-Regional Assessment Asia (MAIZE-CRP). Hyderabad: Natl Acad Agric Res Manag; 2013.
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  51. 6. Sidana BK, Priscilla L, Kaur G, Vatta K. Potential of maize crop for sustainable agriculture in Punjab. J Agric Dev Policy. 2023;33(2):174-82. https://doi.org/10.63066/23220457.33.2.007
  52. 7. Singh G, Kang J, Kingra P, Kaur J. Climate change impacts and its management in maize-wheat cropping systems through agronomic interventions-a review. J Agric Phys. 2023;23(2):155-69.
  53. 8. Gupta D, Mitra A. Unwatering the fields: Analyzing incentives for crop diversification amid groundwater crisis in India. IGIDR Working Paper WP-2025-002. Mumbai: Indira Gandhi Inst Dev Res; 2025.
  54. 9. Singh J, Singh SP, Biswas B, Kaur V. Optimizing maize production through sowing date, nitrogen levels and cultivar selection in northwest region of India. J Plant Nutr. 2024;47(20):3823-43. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2024.2385591
  55. 10. Karnatam KS, Mythri B, Un Nisa W, Sharma H, Meena TK, Rana P, et al. Silage maize as a potent candidate for sustainable animal husbandry development-perspectives and strategies for genetic enhancement. Front Genet. 2023;14:1150132. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2023.1150132
  56. 11. Gheith EMS, El-Badry OZ, Lamlom SF, Ali HM, Siddiqui MH, Ghareeb RY, et al. Maize (Zea mays L.) productivity and nitrogen use efficiency in response to nitrogen application levels and time. Front Plant Sci. 2022;13:941343. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.941343
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  58. 13. Ashraf M. Improvement of stress (salt) tolerance in plants using physiological and genetic approaches [doctoral thesis]. Liverpool: Univ Liverpool; 2010.
  59. 14. Chiaravalloti I, Theunissen N, Zhang S, Wang J, Sun F, Ahmed AA, et al. Mitigation of soil nitrous oxide emissions during maize production with basalt amendments. Front Clim. 2023;5:1203043. https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2023.1203043
  60. 15. Mathukia RK, Rathod P, Dadhania NM. Climate change adaptation: Real time nitrogen management in maize (Zea mays L.) using leaf colour chart. Curr World Environ. 2014;9(3):1028-32. https://doi.org/10.12944/CWE.9.3.58
  61. 16. Singh A, Sarkar S, Jaswal A, Sahoo S. On-farm evaluation of leaf colour chart and chlorophyll meter for need-based nitrogen management in Kharif maize (Zea mays L.). Legume Res. 2024;47(10):1782-86.
  62. 17. Timilsina D, Marahatta S, Amgain LP. Tillage and leaf colour chart-guided nitrogen management: Key to growth and yield improvement of winter maize in Chitwan, Nepal. Arch Agric Environ Sci. 2024;9(4):805-11. https://doi.org/10.26832/24566632.2024.0904025
  63. 18. Prakasha G, Mudalagiriyappa M. Influence of precision nitrogen management through crop sensors on growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) [conference paper]. Wallingford: CABI; 2019.
  64. 19. Kjeldahl J. Neue methode zur bestimmung des stickstoffs in organischen körpern. Z Anal Chem. 1883;22(1):366-82. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01338151
  65. 20. Hiscox JD, Israelstam GF. A method for the extraction of chlorophyll from leaf tissue without maceration. Can J Bot. 1979;57(12):1332-34. https://doi.org/10.1139/b79-163
  66. 21. Arnon DI. Copper enzymes in isolated chloroplasts. Polyphenoloxidase in Beta vulgaris. Plant Physiol. 1949;24(1):1-15. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.24.1.1
  67. 22. AOAC. Official methods of analysis. 15th ed. Washington (DC): AOAC Int; 1990.
  68. 23. Dubois M, Gilles KA, Hamilton JK, Rebers PA, Smith F. Colorimetric method for determination of sugars and related substances. Anal Chem. 1956;28(3):350-56. https://doi.org/10.1021/ac60111a017
  69. 24. King EJ. The colorimetric determination of phosphorus. Biochem J. 1932;26(2):292-97. https://doi.org/10.1042/bj0260292
  70. 25. Mason JL. Flame photometric determination of potassium in unashed plant leaves. Anal Chem. 1963;35(7):264-66. https://doi.org/10.1021/ac60200a032
  71. 26. Amegbor IK, Abe A, Adjebeng-Danquah J, Adu GB. Genetic analysis and yield assessment of maize hybrids under low and optimal nitrogen environments. Heliyon. 2022;8(3):e09027. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09052
  72. 27. He H, Peng M, Ru S, Hou Z, Li J. A suitable organic fertilizer substitution ratio could improve maize yield and soil fertility with low pollution risk. Front Plant Sci. 2022;13:988663. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.988663
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  75. 30. Ray DD, Bera S, Ali A, Mondal S. Initial effect of conservation agriculture on the growth and yield attributes of maize and their correlation behavior with yield. J Crop Weed. 2022;18(1):71-82. https://doi.org/10.22271/09746315.2022.v18.i1.1535
  76. 31. Hammad HM, Chawla MS, Jawad R, Alhuqail A, Bakhat FH, Farhad W, et al. Evaluating the impact of nitrogen application on growth and productivity of maize under control conditions. Front Plant Sci. 2022;13:885479. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.885479
  77. 32. Ige SA, Bello O, Abolusoro S, Aremu C. Comparative response of some tropical maize hybrid and their parental varieties to low and high nitrogen regime. Heliyon. 2021;7(9):e07955. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07909
  78. 33. Krishna TG, Sairam M, Raghava VC, Maitra S. Unraveling the advantages of site-specific nutrient management in maize (Zea mays L.) for enhancing the growth and productivity under varied plant populations in the hot and moist sub-humid region of Odisha. Plant Sci Today. 2024;11:432-40.
  79. 34. Ko DK, Rohozinski D, Song Q, Taylor SH, Juenger TE, Harmon FG, et al. Temporal shift of circadian-mediated gene expression and carbon fixation contributes to biomass heterosis in maize hybrids. PLoS Genet. 2016;12(7):e10061977. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1006197
  80. 35. Chen Z, Hou Y, Yan J. Comprehensive responses of root system architecture and anatomy to nitrogen stress in maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes with contrasting nitrogen efficiency. Agronomy. 2025;15(9):2083. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15092083
  81. 36. Sharifi S, Shi S, Dong X, Obaid H, He X, Gu X. Variations in nitrogen accumulation and use efficiency in maize differentiate with nitrogen and phosphorus rates and contrasting fertilizer placement methodologies. Plants. 2023;12(22):3870. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12223870
  82. 37. Sidhu AS, Shard D, Aulakh CS, Bhullar SS, Singh S. Evaluating the sustainability of natural, organic and conventional farming practices: A comparative study in maize-wheat cropping system in North-west India. Environ Dev Sustain. 2025;1-28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-025-06569-7
  83. 38. Nshakira-Rukundo E, Tabe-Ojong MP Jr, Gebrekidan BH, et al. Adoption and impacts of agricultural technologies and sustainable natural resource management practices in fragile and conflict affected settings: A review and meta-analysis.
  84. 39. Salve DA, Maydup ML, Salazar GA, Tambussi EA, Antonietta M. Canopy development, leaf traits and yield in high-altitude Andean maize under contrasting plant densities in Argentina. Exp Agric. 2023;59:e22. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0014479723000194
  85. 40. Ibraheem F, El-Ghareeb E. Growth and physiological responses of maize inbreds and their related hybrids under sufficient and deficient soil nitrogen. Catrina Int J Environ Sci. 2020;22(1):35-47. https://doi.org/10.21608/cat.2020.122753
  86. 41. Szabó A, Mousavi SM, Bojtor C, Ragan P, Nagy J, Vad A, et al. Analysis of nutrient-specific response of maize hybrids in relation to leaf area index (LAI) and remote sensing. Plants (Basel). 2022;11(9):1197. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11091197
  87. 42. Silva L, Conceição LA, Lidon FC, Maçãs B. Remote monitoring of crop nitrogen nutrition to adjust crop models: A review. Agriculture (Basel). 2023;13(4):835. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13040835
  88. 43. Wiley P, Hoboken P, Jun P, PT J. SO Int J Climatol. 1957;268(Z9):274.
  89. 44. Khan MU, Ali Shah MS, Rahman H Iqbal A, Aslam E. Evaluation of maize hybrids for yield and maturity traits. Sarhad J Agri. 2019;35(1):7-12. https://doi.org/10.17582/journal.sja/2019/35.1.7.12
  90. 45. Makumbi D, Kosgei T, Mageto EK, Kavai MH, Ochieng OG, Adhiambo AC, et al. Genetic analysis of ear, husk and tassel traits in tropical maize under diverse environments. Front Plant Sci. 2025;16:1618054. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2025.1618054

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