2024, Vol. 7, Special Issue 12

author(s)
BR Jadhav, NJ Danawale, AV Solanke, AG Durgude, MR Patil, PS Bodake and BR Yankam

abstract
A field investigation entitled, “Effect of micronutrient management on growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.)” was conducted during kharif season of 2023-2024 at the Instructional farm of PGI, MPKV, Rahuri, Dist. Ahilyanagar (Maharashtra). The soil of experimental field was low in available nitrogen (180.67 kg ha^-1), medium in phosphorus (18.87 kg ha^-1) and moderately high in potassium (378.51 kg ha^-1). The field experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. There were eleven treatments viz., T₁: Absolute control, T₂: RDF (120:60:40 N:P₂O₅:K₂O kg ha^-1), T₃: GRDF (120:60:40 N:P₂O₅:K₂O kg ha^-1 + FYM 10 t ha^-1), T₄: GRDF + Soil application of Multi- micronutrient Grade I @ 25 kg ha^-1, T₅: GRDF + Soil application of ZnSO₄ @ 20 kg ha^-1, T₆: GRDF + Foliar application of Phule Liquid Micro Grade II @ 1% at 35 and 50 DAS, T₇: GRDF + Foliar application of Nano Zinc oxide @ 0.5% at 35 and 50 DAS, T₈: GRDF + Soil application of Multi- micronutrient Grade I @ 25 kg ha^-1 + Foliar application of Phule Liquid Micro Grade II @ 1% at 35 and 50 DAS, T₉: GRDF + Soil application of ZnSO₄ @ 20 kg ha^-1 + Foliar application of Phule Liquid Micro Grade II @ 1% at 35 and 50 DAS, T₁₀: GRDF + Soil application Multi-micronutrient Grade I @ 25 kg ha^-1 + Foliar application of Nano Zinc oxide @ 0.5% at 35 and 50 DAS, T₁₁: GRDF + Soil application of ZnSO₄ @ 20 kg ha^-1 + Foliar application of Nano Zinc oxide @ 0.5% at 35 and 50 DAS. Among the different treatments the application of GRDF along with soil application of Multi-micronutrient Grade I @ 25 kg ha^-1 in association with two foliar sprays of Phule Liquid Micro Grade II @ 1% at 35 and 50 DAS exhibited significantly higher plant height (254.72 cm), number of leaves plant^-1 (18.57), leaf area plant^-1 (107.56 dm²), chlorophyll content by SPAD meter (77.02%) and dry matter plant^-1 (351.77 g) at harvest as compared to rest of nutrient management during kharif, 2023-24. This treatment was found significant but at par with the application of GRDF + Soil application of Multi-micronutrient Grade I @ 25 kg ha^-1 + Foliar application of Nano Zinc oxide @ 0.5% at 35 and 50 DAS. However, this is followed by application of GRDF + Soil application of ZnSO₄ @ 20 kg ha^-1 + Foliar sprays of Phule Liquid Micro Grade- II @ 1% at 35 and 50 DAS. The maize crop fertilized with GRDF + Soil application of Multi-micronutrient Grade I @ 25 kg ha^-1 + two foliar sprays of Phule Liquid Micro Grade II @ 1% at 35 and 50 DAS exhibited significantly higher yield attributing characters viz., cob length (22.75 cm), number of rows cob^-1 (17.59), number of grains cob^-1 (631.34), number of grains rows^-1 (42.66), weight of cob with husk (256.02 g), weight of cob without husk (238.59 g), grain weight cob^-1 (195.39 g), 100 grain weight (33.24 g), grain yield (77.20 q ha^-1), stover yield (103.48 q ha^-1) and biological yield (180.67 q ha^-1) than other nutrient management treatments during investigation. This treatment was found significant but at par with the application of GRDF + Soil application of Multi-micronutrient Grade I @ 25 kg ha^-1 + Foliar application of Nano Zinc oxide @ 0.5% at 35 and 50 DAS. However, this is followed by application of GRDF + Soil application of ZnSO₄ @ 20 kg ha^-1 + Foliar sprays of Phule Liquid Micro Grade II @ 1% at 35 and 50 DAS.