Effect of biochar levels and integrated nutrient-management practices on agro-physiological performance and productivity of maize (Zea mays) Gudade B.A.1,*, Malik G.C.2, Das Anup3, Babu Subhash4, Kumar Amit5, Singh R.6, Bhupenchandra Ingudam7 1Ph.D. Scholar, ICAR-Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya793 103 2Professor, Department of Agronomy, Palli Siksha Bhavana, Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan, West Bengal731 236 3Principal Scientist, Division of Agronomy, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Lembucherra, Tripura799 210 4Senior Scientist, Division of Agronomy, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi110 012 5Scientist, Division of Agronomy, ICAR RC for NEH Region, Sikkim Centre, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim737 102 6Principal Scientist, Division of Agronomy, ICAR Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh208 024 7SMS, ICAR KVK, Tamenglong, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Manipur Centre, Manipur795 759 *Corresponding author's Email: bgudade@gmail.com
Online Published on 18 January, 2023. Abstract The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized block design, during the pre-rainy season of 2018 and 2019 at ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hills Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, to study the effect of biochar and integrated nutrient management practices on agro-physiological performance and productivity of maize (Zea mays L.). comprising 4 treatments, viz. B1, (Control); B2, (5 t/ha biochar); B3, (10 t/ha biochar); B4, (15 t/ha biochar) in factor A and factor B having 3 integrated nutrient-management (INM) practices NM1 [(100% recommended, viz. dose of nitrogen (RDN)]; NM2 [(75% RDN + 25% FYM)]; NM3 (50% RDN + 50% FYM), in 3 replications. The results showed that an application of biochar @ 15 t/ha resulted in significantly higher plant height (171.4 and 177.1 cm) and dry-matter accumulation (393.1 and 401.5 g/plant) at harvesting stage, leaf area index (LAI) at 60 days after sowing (4.78 and 4.85) and 90 days after sowing (das) (5.45 and 5.52), crop-growth rate (CGR) at 30–60 days after sowing (37.3 and 38 g/m2/day). This treatment also resulted in significantly higher kernel/cob (267.8 and 275.8), rows/cob (20.7 and 21), kernel/row (19.9 and 21.8), kernel (4.43 and 4.49 t/ha) and stover yield (7.02 and 7.07 t/ha), total nitrogen uptake (141.8 and 140.4 kg/ha), total phosphorus uptake (23.8 and 23.6 kg/ha), total potassium uptake (115.9 and 114 kg/ha) and gross returns (102,664 and 104,023 ₹/ha) in 2018 and 2019 as compared to the other treatments. In the case of INM practices, significantly higher plant height (161.6 cm) and dry-matter accumulation at the harvesting stage (367.2 g/plant), leaf area index at 60 days after sowing (4.60) and 90 days after sowing (5.23), crop growth rate (34 g/m2/day) at 30–60 days after sowing, kernels/cob (234.9), rows/cob (18.4), kernel/row (19.0), kernel (4.15 t/ha) and stover yield (6.56 t/ha), total nitrogen uptake (125.6 kg/ha), total phosphorus uptake (21.4 kg/ha), total potassium uptake (100.7 kg/ha) and gross return (95,931 ₹/ha) were noticed under 75% RDN + 25% FYM during the first year, while during the second year significantly higher plant height (167.6 cm) and dry-matter accumulation at harvesting stage (375.7 g/plant), leaf area index at 60 days after sowing (4.69) and 90 days after sowing (5.31), crop growth rate (35.2 g/m2/day) at 30–60 days after sowing, kernels/cob (241.0), rows/cob (18.7), kernel/row (20.8), kernel (4.25 t/ha) and stover yield (6.63 t/ha), total nitrogen uptake (125.1 kg/ha), total phosphorus uptake (21.5 kg/ha) and total potassium uptake (99.1 kg/ha) were recorded under 50% RDN + 50% FYM than the control, but gross returns (95,931 ₹/ha) were noticed under 75% RDN + 25 FYM. The best alternative choice for maize production in the India Himalayan area or other similar ecoregions may be the use of biochar @ 15 t/ha together with the concomitant application of 50% RDN + 50% FYM. Top Keywords Agro physiological performance, Biochar, INM, Maize, Productivity. Top |