Evaluation of Nutrient Expert Based Fertilizer Recommendation for Growth, Yield and Nutrient Uptake of Maize Hybrids and Soil Properties in Maize-Wheat Cropping System in Mollisol

Abstract

Maize is a heavy nutrient feeder crop but over and inappropriate fertilization provides lesser yield than the genetic yield potential, lower profits and deterioration in soil health therefore, a new fertilizer recommendation approach, Nutrient Expert (NE) for hybrid maize was evaluated against farmers fertilizer practice (FFP) in three years maize-wheat rotation. Results revealed that nutrient expert-decision support system based nutrient management gave higher yield, nutrient uptake and profits and sustained soil properties over other practices. Days recorded to 50% tassel and silk emergences with SSNM were lesser by 1.7 and 3.2 over 100% RDF and 2.2 and 4.1 over FFP, respectively, consequently reduced anthesis silking interval (ASI). Grain yield, net return, N, P and K uptake of maize were recorded 4.4-7.9, 8.3-15.4, 10.1-16.9, 4.3-8.1 and 12.8-15.3%, respectively, higher with NE over other nutrient management strategies. Of the maize hybrids, hybrid ‘PMH-1’ sustained superiority but remained at par with ‘CNH-08-292. Grain yield of succeeding wheat crop was recorded 192 and 332 kg ha-1 higher with NE compared to that of 100% RDF and FFP, respectively, and proved beneficial residual effect of nutrients applied in maize crop. Fertilizer application based on NE gave more net return of ` 9,198 and ` 15,412 over 100% RDF and FFP, respectively, in maize-wheat rotation. Hybrid ‘PMH-1’ was found most economically viable for rotation. Organic carbon in NE rose by 0.07 and 0.13 units over 100% RDF and FFP, respectively, however fertilizer containing practices enhanced the level from 0.01-0.14 units over initial level. Nutrient expert significantly increased the availability of N and K while depleted available P. Nutrient expert led to increased 16.7-46.3, 3.6-15.4 and 3.2-16.7 per cent mineralization, residual and loss of N, respectively, as compared with 100% RDF and FFP however loss of N was higher with FFP over 100% RDF.