Influence of Soil Amendments on Growth Parameters and Economics in Maize (Zea mays L)

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of different soil amendments on plant growth parameters and economics in maize (Zea mays L).

Place and Duration of Study: Maize variety 900-M-GOLD was cultivated during rabi 2014-15 at College Farm, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, PJTSAU, Hyderabad, Telangana state, India.

Methodology: The Experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 6 treatments replicated four times. Treatments consist of T1- vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 ,T2-FYM @ 10 t ha-1 , T3-tanksilt @ 50 t ha-1 , T4- biochar @10 t ha-1 ,T5- control (without any fertilizer),T6- RDF (NPK-200, 60, 50 kg ha-1). Recommended Dose of Fertilizers was commonly applied from treatment T1 to T4.

Results: There were no significant difference in plant population with the application of all the treatments. At harvest, significantly higher leaf area index recorded with application of tanksilt (1.67) which was on par with vermicompost (1.66), biochar (1.65), FYM (1.65), RDF (1.51) and significantly higher than control (0.80). Maximum gross returns (INR 1,31,283 ha–1), net returns (INR 85,533 ha–1) and BC ratio (2.87) were recorded with the application of tanksilt and minimum gross returns (INR 51,431 ha–1), net returns (INR 24,781 ha–1) and BC ratio (1.93) were recorded in the control.

Conclusion: It was determined that growth parameter viz., leaf area, leaf area index recorded significantly higher with tanksilt application which is on par with the application of vermicompost, biochar, FYM. Maximum gross returns (INR 131283 ha–1), net returns (INR 85533 ha–1) and BC ratio (2.87) were recorded with the application of tanksilt.