Crop productivity and financial feasibility of corn farming with various diverse fertilizer treatments on dry land

Abstract In order to improve growth and increase the crop yield, the balanced fertilizer application of Nitrogen (N), Phosphor (P), and Potassium (K) is highly required. The objective research was to study effectiveness of inorganic fertilizer NPK – MgO “Ecobion” on growth and yield of maize. The research was performed on dry land, Dengkol Village, Singosari Subdistrict, Malang Regency. The research applied Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 3 replications. Combined inorganic fertilizing management of NPK –MgO “Ecobion” consisted of 8 levels, such as A = without fertilization, B = 350 kg Urea/ha + 50 kg SP-36 + 450 kg NPK “Phonska”/ha, C = 350 kg Urea/ha + 50 kg SP-36/ha + 200 kg NPK – MgO “Ecobion”/ha, D = 300 kg Urea/ha + 25 kg SP-36/ha + 300 kg NPK – MgO “Ecobion”/ha, E = 250 kg Urea/ha + 400 kg NPK – MgO “Ecobion”/ha, and F = 200 kg Urea/ha + 500 kg NPK – MgO “Ecobion”/ha. Data analysis used ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) and followed by DMRT test 5%. Result of analysis on inorganic nutrient NPK-MgO “Ecobion” including NPK, due to N = 13.91%, P2O5 total = 12.73%, and K2O = 18.54%, so that cumulative contents of N, P and K > 30% that is 45.18% and each content of N, P, and K is higher than 8.0%. The study also revealed that fertilizing management F= 200 kg Urea/ha + 500 kg NPK – MgO “Ecobion”/ha had the best growth (plant height, number of leaf per plant, stem diameter, Leaf Area (LA), Leaf Area Index (LAI), yield components (diameter of ear, ear length, weight of 100 grains, ear weight per plant, and yield of dry grains) in comparison with other fertilizations and produced the highest dry grains of maize, 8.72 ton/ha, with the gross weight IDR. 33,855,000 and the highest net income (profit) (IDR. 21,657,500; R/C-ratio = 2.77. Fertilizing management F = 200 kg Urea/ha + 500 kg NPK – MgO “Ecobion” showed 189.6% effectiveness (RAE > 100%).