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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. sp9 (2026): Recent Advances in Agriculture

Effect of integrated nutrient management on yield, yield attributes and economics of maize (Zea mays L.) in the Vertisols of South India

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.12574
Submitted
3 November 2025
Published
13-10-2026

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during rainy season of 2024 at ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Regional Research Station, Dharwad, India to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on yield and economics of maize (Zea mays L.). Maize cultivar DKC 9133 was sown in the experiment with 8 treatments and was replicated thrice in a randomised complete block design (RCBD). Significantly higher grain yield (8006 kg ha-1), straw yield (7044 kg ha-1), biological yield (15050 kg ha-1) and water use efficiency (26.90 kg ha-1 mm-1) were recorded with application of 100 % recommended rate of fertiliser + rhizosphere microbial consortia seed treatment at 8 mL kg-1 of seed + zinc sulphate (ZnSO₄) and ferrous sulphate (FeSO₄) at 25 kg ha-1 + farmyard manure at 2.0 t ha-1 i.e. T8 treatment. Higher grain yield in T8 treatment is attributed to greater cob weight (157 g plant-1), grain weight cob-1 (133.6 g), cob length (16.7 cm) and cob girth (14.8 cm). Correlation analysis revealed that grain yield of maize was positively correlated with straw yield, harvest index, water use efficiency (WUE), grains cob-1, cob weight, grain weight cob-1, 100-grain weight, cob length and cob girth. From the point of economics; farmers with low input availability advised to apply 75 % recommended rate of macro and micronutrient fertiliser with rhizosphere consortium whereas the farmers who wants to realise higher returns with improved and sustainable crop productivity are advised to adopt 100 % recommended rate of macro and micronutrient fertiliser with rhizosphere consortium in rainfed conditions in the transitional zone of northern Karnataka, India.

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