Effect of Fertigation Frequencies and Levels on Growth and Yield of Maize

摘要

Field experiment was conducted at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Coimbatore during summer, 2007 to study the effect of drip fertigation levels and frequencies on growth and yield of hybrid maize. Four fertigation frequencies (once in 6,9, 12 and 15 days), two fertilizer levels (100 and 150 per cent of RDF), surface irrigation with 100 per cent RDF and Absolute control (no fertilizer) were included as treatments in this study. Application of 150 per cent of RDF once in 6 days (T_5) recorded significantly higher grain yield (8,957 kg ha~(-1)) than 100 per cent of RDF (7,915 kg ha~(-1)). Irrespective of fertilizer levels, fertigation frequency scheduled once in 6 days registered higher grain yield and it was on par with other frequencies. No significant difference in grain yield was noticed among different fertigation frequencies. Absolute control (T_(10)) recorded the lowest grain yield (4,680 kg ha~(-1)) followed by surface irrigation with 100 per cent RDF (T_g). The increased percentage of grain yield over lower dose of RDF and absolute control was 13.2 and 91.3, respectively. Maize crop responded well to fertigation and application of nutrients up to 150 per cent of RDF and maximized the grain yield. The results of this study revealed that scheduling of drip fertigation with 150 per cent of RDF applied once in 6 days could be the optimal management practice for getting higher yield in hybrid maize.