Response of nitrogen and phosphorus levels on the yield of maize (Zea mays L.)

A field experiment entitled “Response of nitrogen and phosphorus levels on the yield of maize (Zea mays L.)” was conducted at the Research Farm, School of Agriculture, ITM University, Gwalior, (M.P.) during the kharif season of 2019-20. A set of 12 treatment combinations including four nitrogen levels viz., 0 kg/ha (N0), 110 kg/ha (N1), 120 kg/ha (N2) and 130 kg/ha (N3) with three phosphorus levels viz., 60 kg/ha (P1), 70 kg/ha (P2) and 80 kg/ha (P3) were evaluated. Treatments were replicated thrice as per Randomized Block design with Factorial concept. Crop sown with application of nitrogen @ 130 kg/ha combined application with phosphorus@ 80 kg/ha attained significantly higher plant growth and yield at all the growth stages of plant. The significantly higher plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of days taken to 50 per cent tasseling, number of cobs per plant, number of grains per cob, grain and stalk yield per hectare of maize at maximum crop growth stage was recorded under the application of nitrogen @ 130 kg/ha combined application with phosphorus @ 80 kg/ha with the respective values of 212.75 cm, 15.49, 56.64,2.50,317.36,47.12q/ha and65.12q/ha, respectively proved significantly superior to rest of the treatments. Result showed that maize variety when sown the application of nitrogen @ 130 kg/ha combined application with phosphorus @ 80 kg/ha recorded the maximum and significantly higher values of these parameters.