Influence of site-specific nutrient management on growth and yield of maize (Zea mays) under conservation tillage

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at New Delhi during rainy (kharif) season of 2013, to study the effect of nutri- ent management on growth and development behaviour of maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), SPAD value, dry-matter accumulation, leaf-area index, crop growth rate (CGR) and rela- tive growth rate (RGR) were significantly higher with site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) over the recom- mended dose of fertilizer (RDF) under conservation agriculture. Of the maizegenotypes CMH 08-292 recorded significantly highest dry-matter accumulation at various stages and CGR, while PMH 1 recorded higher NDVI, SPAD, leaf-area index and RGR. Cobs/plot, cob length and girth, grain rows/cob, grains/row, cob yield, shelling, harvest index and grain yield were significantly higher with SSNM over RDF. PMH 3 recorded significantly higher cobs/plot, cob length and girth, grains/row, cob yield and grain yield, whereas S 6217 recorded significantly higher grain rows/cob and harvest index, while significantly higher shelling was recorded with CMH 08-292.