INFLUENCE OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC FERTILIZER MANAGEMENT ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF MAIZE

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University Farm SAU, Dhaka during the period from December 2020 to April 2021 in Rabi season to study influence of organic and inorganic nutrient management on growth and yield of maize. The experiment consisted of two factors followed by split plot design with three replications. Factor A: Variety viz (2); V 1 = SAU-984 (Advance line) and V 2 = Pioneer 3355 (Maize genotype). Factor B: Fertilizer application rate viz (6); T 1 = 100% RDF (Urea+ TSP+ MoP+ Gypsum+ ZnS+ Boric Acid), T 2 = 100% Biochar, T 3 = 100% Biochar + 50% RDF, T 4 = 100% Biochar + 75% RDF, T 5 = 50% Biochar + 50% RDF and T 6 = 100% Biochar + 100% RDF. Data was taken during growth and harvest. The experimental results revealed that different varieties, fertilizer dose and their combination significantly influenced the growth, yield contributing characteristics and yield of hybrid maize. In case of different hybrid variety, the V 2 [Pioneer 3355 (Maize genotype)] recorded the highest grain yield (12.035 t ha -1 ), stover yield (14.248 t ha -1 ), biological yield (25.986 t ha ) and harvest index (45.143%) comparable to the other variety. In case of different fertilizer doses the highest grain yield (12.542 t ha -1 ), stover yield (14.982 t ha ), biological yield (27.532 t ha -1 ) and harvest index (45.573%) were observed in T 6

(100% RDF + 100% Biochar) treatment comparable to other treatments. In case of combined effect, the V 2 T 6 treatment combination had the highest grain yield (12.827 t ha -1 ) followed by V 1 T 6 (11.957 t ha -1 ) treatment combination. Hence, it was concluded that growing hybrid maize with the use of 100% Biochar and 100% of the recommended fertilizer dose will improve the yields of both Pioneer 3355 (Maize genotype) and SAU-984 (Advance line) but Pioneer 3355 (Maize genotype) will provide more production than SAU-984 (Advance line).