Enhancing productivity and quality of fodder maize through nitrogen and zinc application levels

Field experiment was conducted at research farm, Bihar Agricultural College, Sabour, Bhagalpur (Bihar) during Kharif- 2015 to study the response of fodder maize to levels of nitrogen, and zinc. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design with three nitrogen levels in main plot (N1-90 kg ha-1, N2-120 kg ha-1 and N3-150 kg ha-1) and three zinc levels in sub plots (Zn1-0 kg ha-1, Zn2-10 kg ha-1 and Zn3-20 kg ha-1) with three replications. The results of one year study, it can be concluded that, application of 150 kg N ha-1 significantly increased the leaf area index, dry matter production, and chlorophyll content plant-1 at different crop growth periods of fodder maize. Stem diameter showed significant and consistent increase, with increase in nitrogen application from 90 to 150 kg ha-1. Crude protein content and crude protein yield showed significant increase, whereas, crude fibre content and crude fibre yield showed significant and consistent decrease up to 150 kg N ha-1. The green fodder yield of fodder maize improved significantly and consistently from 449 to 506 q ha-1 with increase in nitrogen level from 90-150 kg ha-1. The maximum green fodder and dry fodder yield (506 and 126 q ha-1) was recorded with the application of nitrogen @ 150 kg ha-1. The data further revealed that, N2 and N3 (nitrogen levels) marked an increase of 3.75 and 11.25 % in green fodder yield over N1 level. It is also evident from the data that application of zinc 20 kg ha-1 significantly improved the green fodder and dry fodder yield of maize over 0 kg ha-1 zinc application. Highest gross return (Rs.60,668 ha-1) and net return (Rs.39,190 ha-1) were recorded with treatment combination N150 Zn20. However, highest benefit cost ratio (1.82) was realized with treatment combination N150 Zn10.