Productivity and profitability of maize (Zea mays) cultivars under organic management condition in mid-hills of Sikkim Kumar Amit1,*, Avasthe Ravikant2, Singh Raghavendra3, Babu Subhash4, Das S.K.5, Ravisankar N.6, Panwar A.S.6, Qureshi A. Aziz8, Laha Ramgopal2, Mishra V.K.10, Bhupenchandra Ingudam11, Prasad S.K.12 1Scientist, ICAR Research Complex for North-Eastern Hill Region, Sikkim Centre, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim, 737 102 2Principal Scientist, ICAR Research Complex for North-Eastern Hill Region, Sikkim Centre, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim, 737 102 3Principal Scientist, ICAR Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, 208 024 4Senior Scientist, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110 012 5Senior Scientist, ICAR Research Complex for North-Eastern Hill Region, Sikkim Centre, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim, 737 102 6Principal Scientist, ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, 250 110 8Principal Scientist, ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500 030 10Director, ICAR Research Centre for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, 793 103 11SMS, ICAR Krishi Vigyan Kendra (Tamenglong), ICAR-Research Centre for NEH Region Manipur Centre, Manipur, 795 004 12YP-I, ICAR Research Complex for North-Eastern Hill Region, Sikkim Centre, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim, 737 102 *Corresponding author's Email: amitkumaricar13@gmail.com
Online published on 29 November, 2023. Abstract A field experiment was conducted during pre-rainy (kharif) seasons of 2019 and 2020 at Research Farm of ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Sikkim Centre, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim to evaluate the performance of maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars under organic management condition. Twelve cultivars of maize, viz. ‘Seti Makkai’, ‘Pahenlo Makkai’, ‘Rato Makkai’, ‘Baiguni Makkai’, ‘Kalo Makkai’, ‘Satheya’, ‘RCM 1-1’, ‘RCM 1-3’, ‘RCM-75’ and ‘Vivek Sankul 31’, ‘Vivek Sankul 37’ and ‘Vivek Sankul 35’ were evaluated under organic management system in randomized complete block design. The results showed that cultivar ‘Seti Makkai’ recorded significantly maximum plant height (305 cm) as compared to the other cultivars. The highest dry-matter accumulation (81 g/plant) was registered under ‘Rato Makkai’ which was significantly superior to that of remaining cultivars. The maximum leaf-area index was recorded under ‘Vivek Sankul 35’ (4.35) as compared to the other cultivars. The minimum days required to 50% flowering (61 days) was noticed under ‘Vivek Sankul 35’. As compared to the other cultivars, the maximum cob length (16.7 cm) was recorded under ‘RCM 1-1’. ‘Vivek Sankul 31’ registered significantly higher cob girth (13.4 cm) than the others. Number of rows/cob (12.9) was significantly higher in ‘Vivek Sankul 35’ than the remaining cultivars. Maximum number of grains/row was registered in ‘Kalo Makkai’ (36.8). The highest grain yield (3.97 t/ha) and economic benefits were recorded with ‘Vivek Sankul 35’ as compared to the remaining cultivars. Short- duration maize cultivar ‘Vivek Sankul 35’ was found most promising in terms of productivity and profitability and may be recommended for cultivation by farmers of Sikkim Himalayas and similar agroecoregions under organic production system. Top Keywords Maize cultivars, Organic farming, Productivity, Profitability. Top |